Host impact on the stability of a plant virus gene vector as measured by a new fluorescent local lesion passaging assay

► Plant virus vectors for expression of foreign genes are subject to recombination. ► Tomato bushy stunt virus expressing GFP was inoculated onto different host plants. ► Infected leaves of inoculated hosts served as inoculum for passage to cowpea. ► The percentage of green fluorescent lesions on cowpea varied per host. ► Virus vector stability is host-dependent.