On reading a history book a short while ago, ran across the note that the tobacco plant was the "guinea-pig" that led to the discovery of the virus families.
The tobacco mosaic virus was isolated by Dr. Dmitri Ivanovski, a microbiologist at the University of Saint Petersburg in the 1890's, to help solve a problem for Crimean tobacco growers. This was the first virus to be identified, and his techniques opened the door for a host of further discoveries by other researchers.
The tobacco mosaic virus was isolated by Dr. Dmitri Ivanovski, a microbiologist at the University of Saint Petersburg in the 1890's, to help solve a problem for Crimean tobacco growers. This was the first virus to be identified, and his techniques opened the door for a host of further discoveries by other researchers.