Comparison of viral RNA populations of pathogenically distinct isolates of Citrus tristeza virus : application to monitoring cross-protection

The population of sequence variants of Citrus tristeza virus (CTV) isolates of different geographic origins and pathogenicity properties was characterized by single-strand conformation polymorphism (SSCP) analysis of cDNA of the genes p18, p13, p20 and p23. The mild isolates analysed here usually yielded a SSCP profile with two DNA bands, suggestive of a predominant sequence variant, whereas the SSCP profile of the most virulent isolates contained more than two DNA bands, indicating that their viral populations are likely to be more complex. The set of SSCP profiles of the four genes allowed identification of individual isolates, but no profile characteristic of a geographic area or a biogroup was found. Sweet orange plants singly inoculated with a mild or with a severe isolate yielded the SSCP profile characteristic of each isolate, whereas the SSCP profile of plants successively inoculated with both isolates was a composite of the two individual profiles. The SSCP profile of plants singly inoculated remained constant, but the profile of doubly inoculated plants varied with time. Plants in which the SSCP profile of the severe isolate became predominant showed stem pitting, and those in which the predominant profile corresponded to the mild isolate remained symptomless. The results indicate that SSCP analysis can be used to study changes in RNA populations of doubly inoculated plants and to monitor cross-protection between mild and severe isolates.     

Systemic spread of Plum pox virus (PPV) in Mariana plum GF 8-1 in relation to shoot growth

Infection of Prunus spp. by Plum pox virus (PPV) is characterized by an uneven distribution of the virus within the tree and branches. In order to gain a better understanding of this distribution, a method for modelling tree growth was used. PPV spread was followed within susceptible Mariana plum clone GF 8-1 shoots for 4 months after inoculation. Shoot growth was unaffected by the presence of the virus. Symptoms appeared on leaves produced in the most actively growing parts of the shoots, i.e. at the beginning of the season. PPV was detected in leaves other than those showing symptoms. The proportion of leaves with detectable virus decreased from the zone showing symptoms, with 100% ELISA-positive responses, to the shoot tip with no detectable virus in leaves produced between 111 and 127 days after inoculation. Furthermore, a higher proportion of positive ELISA results was obtained below the zone showing symptoms (77%) compared with 50% above. PPV was detected in 95% of the most vigorous shoots 71 days after inoculation compared with 37% of slower-growing, later-produced shoots.     

麦二叉蚜传播玉米矮花叶病毒的机制

用胶体金标记法和荧光抗体标记法研究了麦二叉蚜(Schizaphis graminum)传播玉米矮花叶病毒(Maize dwaft mosaic virus,MDMV)的机制。麦二叉蚜传播玉米矮花叶病毒需要辅助成份-蛋白酶(Helper component-proteinase,HC-Pro)的参与。在电镜下观察到HC-Pro可以与MDMV粒子结合。用FITC标记的HC-Pro抗体和MDMV抗体证明,HC-Pro可以直接结合到蚜虫口针上;而MDMV粒子不能直接结合到蚜虫口针,必须在HC-Pro的辅助下才能结合到蚜虫口针上。这为HC-Pro在蚜虫传毒过程中起桥梁作用提供了新的证据。MDMV粒子主要吸附在蚜虫口针的尖端和中间部分。     

晋南冬麦区大麦黄矮病毒流行株系监测及防治策略探讨

连续5年(1996～2000年)采集晋南冬麦区小麦黄矮病标样,采用生物学和血清学(酶联免疫吸附法)相结合的诊断方法对该地区的大麦黄矮病毒流行株系进行了鉴别。结果表明,该小麦黄矮病流行区近五年以GAV株系为主流株系,兼有少量GPV、PAV和混合株系存在。同时对小麦抗黄矮病新品种“临抗1号”进行了GPV和GAV两种株系的抗性测定,明确了该品种兼抗GPV和GAV两种株系。根据小麦黄矮病发生现状,提出了一套以选育推广抗耐病品种为主,以药剂防治为辅的综合防治措施。以期为当地小麦生产服务。     

柑桔溃疡病菌存活期的研究

本文对鄂东南地区生态条件下柑桔溃疡病菌在不同场所的存活期进行了研究 ,并对其能否作为侵染源进行了评价。证实在病株病斑内的病菌存活时间可达一年以上 ,是此病发生最主要的侵染源。病菌在田间条件下的土壤、落叶、落果、果皮及自然水中的存活期均相当有限 ;其中以冬季病落叶中的病菌存活期最长 ,也不超过 3个月 ;故年前存在于这些场所的病菌均不能成为第 2年的初侵染源     

胶体金免疫层析法快速检测烟草环斑病毒

采用柠檬酸三钠还原法制备胶体金颗粒 ,标记烟草环斑病毒的抗体 ,制成免疫层析检测试纸条。检测粗提纯病毒的灵敏度为 1 0 0 0ng/ml,病汁液稀释 1 0 0 0倍后仍可快速检出。对大豆病种子、烟草冻干病叶等不同材料进行检测也有良好的效果 ,1～ 2min即可出现结果。用 9种不同的病毒进行测试 ,未出现非特异性反应。     

北方地区小西葫芦黄花叶病毒的酶联检测和西瓜品种抗病性鉴定

应用DAS-ELISA对分别于1998年在河南、陕西和1999年在河南、陕西、河北和山西采集的葫芦科病毒病样本84份、186份进行小西葫芦黄花叶病毒的检测,表明该病毒在这些地区广泛发生,ZYMV阳性检出率分别为79.8%和57.5%熏在北京和河南临颖县ZYMV发生率较低熏≤23.1%,在其余地区即河北石家庄,河南郑州、开封、孟津,山西运城,陕西西安其阳性检出率在40.0%～92.9%之间。除冬瓜样本没有ZYMV外,西瓜、甜瓜、南瓜、丝瓜、小西葫芦、苦瓜、黄瓜和瓠子均受到ZYMV的侵染。不同地区、年份和作物之间ZYMV阳性检出率存在差异。对18份西瓜品种的抗ZYMV温室人工接种鉴定的试验表明,目前推广的一些品种对ZYMV缺乏抗病性。     

Purification and some properties of Papaya meleira virus, a novel virus infecting papayas in Brazil

'Meleira', or 'sticky disease', is currently the most damaging papaya disease in the mid-eastern Brazilian growing regions. Consistent disease transmission via latex injection, presence of similar isometric particles in the laticiferous vessels of diseased plants, and detection of double-stranded DNA in naturally and experimentally infected papaya trees suggest that a virus is the causal agent. Conclusive evidence for viral aetiology was previously lacking, mostly because every attempt to purify the putative virus from infected papayas had failed. Following the successful purification and partial characterization of the meleira virus, healthy papaya seedlings injected with purified virus particles later developed typical symptoms of the disease. Negatively stained, isometric, full and 'empty' purified virus particles measured 42 and 38 nm, respectively. The viral genome was a single dsRNA molecule of about 12 kbp. Several capsid proteins, ranging in size from 14·4 to 45 kDa, were consistently revealed by PAGE. Papaya meleira virus (PMeV) appears to represent a novel group of viruses, with no known similar counterpart among known plant-, vertebrate-, invertebrate- or prokaryote-infecting viruses.     

Diversity of the coat protein-coding region among Ilarvirus isolates infecting hop in Australia

Coat protein (CP) sequences of 17 Ilarvirus isolates were obtained from hops at three farms in Tasmania, Australia. Phylogenetic analysis of these sequences and additional database sequences indicated several Apple mosaic virus (ApMV) isolate clusters distinct from Prunus necrotic ringspot virus (PNRSV): one containing isolates from apple; one containing a single isolate from almond; a third containing Australian hop isolates of the 'apple' serotype and a German isolate of unknown origin; and a fourth containing Australian hop isolates of the 'intermediate' serotype. Isolates from hop, pear and prune from the Czech Republic either formed a fifth grouping, or were divergent members of the 'intermediate' serotype group. Deduced amino acid (aa) residue differences between the coat proteins of the two hop isolate serotype groups were highlighted as possible regions of serological differentiation. No evidence for coinfection of plants with both serotypes was found. Tests of ApMV-infected hop buds using the Shirofugen flowering cherry assay revealed a possible differentiation of the two strains based on hypersensitivity. Because of serological similarities to PNRSV, these viruses have commonly been reported as strains of PNRSV. However, this study shows ilarviruses from Australian hops are strains of ApMV, but distinct from those infecting Malus spp.     

A new approach to evaluate relative resistance and tolerance of tomato cultivars to begomoviruses causing the tomato yellow leaf curl disease in Spain

A simple procedure to evaluate relative resistance and tolerance of tomato cultivars to the begomoviruses causing tomato yellow leaf curl (TYLC) disease in Spain was developed. To estimate the resistance and tolerance levels of a cultivar, several formulae were developed based on the ratio of infected plants, virus titre (estimated by tissue–print hybridization) and symptom intensity. The formulae were applied to five commercial tomato cultivars (Amoretto, Birloque, Royesta, Tovigreen and Ulises) naturally infected by TYLC viruses. The analyses showed that Ulises, Birloque and Tovigreen exhibited a moderate resistance, and Ulises was also highly tolerant. There was a positive correlation between symptom intensity and virus titre in infected plants, suggesting that the hybridization technique could also be used as an early estimator of tolerance. Finally, molecular hybridization and nucleotide sequence analyses of the begomovirus intergenic region showed that the local TYLC virus population consisted of a single species, Tomato yellow leaf curl virus (TYLCV, formerly TYLCV-Israel), with low genetic variation (nucleotide identity between isolates higher than 97%).