First report of a Grapevine Algerian latent virus disease on statice plants ( Limonium sinuatum ) in Japan

A viral disease was found in Nagano Prefecture, Japan, on statice ( Limonium sinuatum ) with chlorotic leaf spot, necrotic stunt, and dwarfing. Spherical virus particles 30 nm in diameter were isolated from infected plants and statice seedlings and caused identical symptoms 4 weeks after mechanical inoculation. Nucleotide and deduced amino acid sequences of the coat protein showed 98% and 98.7% identities with those of Grapevine Algerian latent virus (GALV) nipplefruit strain. This is the first report in Japan of a viral disease on statice caused by GALV.