Effect of lysolecithin analogues on plant viruses.

Newly synthesized lysolecithin analogues 2-0-hexadecyl-glycero-3-phosphocholine (1) and its methyl (2), ethyl (3) and benzyl (4) derivatives were tested with regard to the anti- phytoviral effect on potato virus X ( PVX ), red clover mottle virus ( RCMV ) and tobacco mosaic virus (TMV). The first two compounds (1, 2) reduced markedly the content of PVX and RCMV in systemically infected host plants as evidenced by precipitin test and bio-assay. Whereas compounds (1), (2) and (3) did not significantly influence the local lesion formation caused by TMV, compound (4) increased the number of necrotic lesions. In the presence of all four lysolecithin analogues, especially of (1), (2) and (3) the infectivity of virus particles was reduced.