ABSTRACT
The caulimovirus group was organized by the ICTV in 1971. The group name is derived from the name of type member, cauliflower mosaic virus. Caulimoviruses possess one molecule of dsDNA in isometric particles with diameters of ca. 50 nm. The DNA of the group type member is obtained from purified preparations in the form of relaxed circular molecules together with some linear molecules of variable length. Circular molecules are relaxed because of the presence of single-stranded interruptions. One strand always has a single interruption, and the other strand can have one to three interruptions. Many cytoplasmic inclusions induced by SCMoV were observed in thin sections of bean and soybean leaf tissues. The inclusions were electron opaque, lacunose, ovoid, or elliptical and appeared similar to those induced by caulimoviruses.
