Viruses occurring in Plantago species in England

SUMMARY Eight viruses were detected in a survey of Plantago species in England during 1977–80. Two of these were identified as previously described viruses (ribgrass mosaic virus and plantain virus A), while six are believed to be newly recorded (plantain virus X and plantain viruses 4–8). These are tentatively classified as a potexvirus, a caulimovirus, a potyvirus, a carlavirus, and two isometric viruses with properties similar to the tobacco necrosis virus group and the tombusviruses, respectively. The large number of virus types known to infect Plantago species indicates that these plants have a broad raoge of susceptibihty to plant viruses, and may act as reservoirs of viruses able to infect crops, although none of the viruses detected in the present survey is known to be of importance in British agriculture.