Virus TMV
Mercedes Connelly
Shape of the virus. Why is the shape important? RNA vs DNA virus
The TMV virus is a RNA virus, composed of rod shaped particles.
How does the TMV virus spread (infect)?
The TMV is easily transmitted from plant to plant when an infected leaf rubs against a leaf of a healthy plant, by the use of contaminated tools, and occasionally by contaminated workers with TMV on their hands after smoking cigarettes.
What types (families) of plants does it infect?
The TMV infects tobacco plants, tomato plants, and other solanaceous plants.
What are the implications on agricultural crops?
TMV is used in the research leading to new concepts in transgenic technology for virus resistance and developing the virus to act as a 'work horse' to express foreign genes in plants for production of pharmaceuticals and vaccines.
Website: http://www.apsnet.org/edcenter/intropp/lessons/viruses/pages/tobaccomosaic.aspx