Galiakparov, N., Department of Virology, Agricultural Research Organization, Volcani Center, Bet Dagan 50250, Israel
Tanne, E., Department of Virology, Agricultural Research Organization, Volcani Center, Bet Dagan 50250, Israel
Sela, I., Otto Warburg Ctr. for Biotechnology, Faculty of Agriculture, Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Rehovot 76100, Israel
Gafny, R., Department of Virology, Agricultural Research Organization, Volcani Center, Bet Dagan 50250, Israel

A full length cDNA clone of grapevine virus A (GVA) was constructed downstream from the bacteriophage T7 RNA polymerase promoter. Capped in vitro-transcribed RNA was infectious in Nicotiana benthamiana and N. clevelandii plants. Symptoms induced by the RNA transcripts or by the parental virus were indistinguishable. The infectivity of the in vitro-transcribed RNA was confirmed by serological detection of the virus coat and movement proteins and by observation of virions by electron microscopy. This is the first report of infectious RNA transcripts derived from a full-length cDNA clone of a member of the Vitivirus genus.