**Seed Transmission of Tobamoviruses: Aspects of Global Disease Distribution Disease Distribution**

DOI: 10.5772/intechopen.70244

**Seed Transmission of Tobamoviruses: Aspects of Global** 

Aviv Dombrovsky and Elisheva Smith Aviv Dombrovsky and Elisheva Smith Additional information is available at the end of the chapter

Additional information is available at the end of the chapter

http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.70244

#### **Abstract**

Global seed trade contributed to development and improvement of world agriculture. An adverse effect of global seed trade is reflected in disease outbreaks in new growing areas, countries, and continents. Among the seed-borne viruses, *Tobamovirus* species are currently considered a peril for crop production around the world. The unique tobamoviral particles confer stability to the RNA genome and preserve their infectivity for years. High titer of *Tobamovirus* species accumulates in reproductive organs leading to viral particles adsorbed to seed coat, which potentially establish a primary infectious source. *Tobamovirus*-contaminated seeds show very low virus transmission in grow-out experiments as detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) analysis. Interestingly, in situ immunofluorescence analysis of *Cucumber green mottle mosaic virus* (CGMMV) reveals that the perisperm-endosperm envelope (PEE) is contaminated as well by the *Tobamovirus*. Indeed, chemical seed disinfection treatments that affect primarily the seed coat surface are efficient for several *Tobamovirus* species but apparently do not prevent seed transmission of CGMMV to occur. *Tobamovirus* infection of the seed internal layers, which rarely includes the embryo, may partially follow the direct invasion pathway of *Potyviruses* such as *Pea seed-borne mosaic virus* (PSbMV) to pea embryo.

**Keywords:** contaminated seeds, perisperm-endosperm envelope (PEE), seed coat, seed disinfection, seed testing, size exclusion limit (SEL), seedlings, symplast, phloem
