Production of Virus-free Carnation Plants through Heat Therapy

Abstract

The effect of exposure of carnation plants infected with carnation, latent virus (CLV) to two temperature regimes (35 + 2 "C and 40 +2 "C) for different periods (1 to 4 weeks) revealed that
the exposure to different temperatures for different periods has a negative correlation with the survival of plants. Whereas only 33.33 per cent plants survived after 4 weeks at 35 + 2 "C, the plants when exposed to 40+ 2 "C for the same period could not tolerate the heat shock. However, only those plants which were exposed to 35 + 2 "C for 4 weeks and those exposed to 40 + 2 "C for 3 weeks were free from CLV. However, because of better survival rate, the higher temperature regime of 40 + 2 "C is recommended for production of virus-tested carnation plants.