Antiphytoviral Activities of an Alkane Betaine Sulfonate and First Investigations into the Mode of Action

Treatments with alkane betaine sulfonate (ABS) markedly reduced the concentration of potato virus X (PVX) as well as of tobacco mosaic virus (TMV) in inoculated and systemically infected leaves of Ncotiana tabacum L. ‘Samsun’. A very similar inhibition of TMV was obtained, if the plants were infected via roots instead of inoculation of leaves. Likewise the number of local lesions of TMV on leaves of Nicotiana glutinosa L. is substantially reduced by one treatment with ABS. As concluded from the time-response course of inhibition of PVX, ABS influences a late event in the virus replication cycle. Besides, ABS inactivates free virions.