The Elimination of the Virus Disease, Streak, by Thermotherapy and Tissue Culturing

In an attempt to eliminate virus diseases in cane, very small portions of meristematic tissue were cultured. Mortality was high and elimination of disease was not achieved. Thermo and chemotherapeutic treatment of whole buds was then attempted, followed by culturing of the remaining living tissues. Better survival rates were achieved and heat treatment standards were established for the complete elimination of visual symptoms of the virus disease "Streak". The treatment selected was immersion of bild tissues in hot water at 59°C for ten minutes. Subsequent culturing yielded plants which, when established in the field, were free from the symptonis of "streak" exhibited by the parent material.