Virová onemocnění u mechů

During the study of mosses the author found various morphological abnormities in mosses that can be attributed to virus diseases. They are geniculate distortion of leaves and associated deformations of cells. They have been erroneously included in original descriptions of moss species or described as var. rugulosa in the past. As a rule, no obvious pathogen, either plant or animal, can be observed in such cases. Together with the phytopathologist C.Blattný we expressed the idea that this is due to a specific moss virosis (Blattný et al. 1949). Experiments testing transfer of the disease would confirm this hypothesis.