Growth promotion in plants by rice necrosis mosaic virus.

Ludwigia perennis L. infected with rice necrosis mosaic virus (RNMV) showed an increase in both shoot growth and leaf size, along with characteristic chlorotic lesions on leaves. The promotion of growth over the controls extended over a considerable period of time (70 d). Inoculation with RNMV resulted in increased plant height, leaf size, stem diameter, and number and size of fiber bundles in Corchorus olitorius L., C. capsularis L., Hibiscus sabdariffa L. and H. cannabinus L.