Uncontrolled Citrus psorosis virus infection in Citrus sinensis transgenic plants expressing a viral 24K-derived hairpin that does not trigger RNA silencing

Citrus psorosis virus (CPsV) is the causal agent of psorosis disease of citrus. Pineapple sweet orange plants were transformed with a hairpin construct derived from the viral 24k gene (lines ihp24K). Contrary to expectations, these lines did not trigger efficient RNA silencing, and when infected with CPsV they showed a phenotype of exacerbated symptoms with a persistent and homogeneous infection without the recovery observed in non-transgenic plants. Ihp24K lines did not behave similarly when challenged with Citrus tristeza virus. All these results indicate that hypersusceptibility is likely related to the specific action of 24K-derived hairpin over CPsV multiplication.     

Association of citrus psorosis B symptoms with a sequence variant of the Citrus psorosis virus RNA 2

Citrus psorosis virus (CPsV), the type species of genus Ophiovirus, is the presumed causal agent of a bark scaling disease in citrus plants. CPsV virions are kinked filaments composed of three negative‐strand RNA molecules and a ～48‐kDa coat protein. The virus induces two different syndromes: psorosis A (PsA), characterized by limited bark scaling lesions in the trunk and main limbs, and a more aggressive form of the disease called psorosis B (PsB) with rampant bark lesions affecting even thin branches and chlorotic blotches in old leaves. In the greenhouse, the PsA and PsB syndromes can be induced by graft inoculating healthy citrus seedlings with non‐lesion or with lesion bark inoculum from PsA‐affected field trees. PsA‐ and PsB‐inducing CPsV sub‐isolates obtained by this procedure from the same tree showed identical single‐strand conformation polymorphism (SSCP) profiles in homologous segments of the RNAs 1 and 3, whereas segments of the RNA 2 enabled discrimination between PsA‐ and PsB‐associated sequence variants. SSCP analysis of the RNA 2 population present in different tissues of psorosis‐infected plants showed that: (i) PsA‐inducing isolates contain PsB‐associated sequence variants at low frequency, (ii) the PsB‐associated sequence variant is predominant in blistered twigs and gummy pustules affecting old leaves, characteristic of PsB isolates, and (iii) the PsB‐associated sequence variant accumulates preferentially in bark lesions of the trunk and limbs. SSCP analysis of the RNA 2 population also enabled monitoring of interference between PsA‐ and PsB‐associated variants in plants co‐inoculated with both psorosis types.     

Improved detection of citrus psorosis virus using polyclonal and monoclonal antibodies

Citrus psorosis is a serious and widespread disease associated with citrus psorosis virus (CPsV), a novel filamentous negative-stranded virus in the genus Ophiovirus . Laborious and costly indexing on test plants has been the only routine diagnostic method available, but recently an antiserum usable in double antibody sandwich (DAS) ELISA has been prepared. Here, major improvements to the DAS-ELISA protocol, a new purification method, and production of two monoclonal antibodies (mabs) to CPsV, an IgG and an IgM are reported. A highly sensitive triple antibody sandwich (TAS) ELISA making use of the mabs is described. In glasshouse citrus the homologous virus was still detectable at a tissue dilution of 1/6250 in DAS and at 1/31250 in TAS-ELISA. Both the DAS and IgG mab-TAS formats detected all CPsV isolates so far tested (from Argentina, Italy, Lebanon, Spain and the USA). A few isolates were not detected by the IgM mab.     

First report of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Citrus psorosis virus</Emphasis> in Japan

Citrus psorosis virus (CPsV) was detected from citrus trees for the first time in Japan. The diagnosis was confirmed by molecular, serological, and biological indexing. RT-PCR detected CPsV from two citrus trees among ca. 200 tested. Both trees were variety Shiranui of [Citrus unshiu Marc. × C. sinensis (L.) Osb.] × C. reticulata Blanco, and neither had the bark scaling symptom typical of CPsV. The CPsV isolate could be genetically related to those from Spain, Italy, Florida, and California.     

Occurrence of Citrus psorosis virus in Campania, southern Italy

Citrus psorosis virus (CPsV), genus Ophiovirus, is associated with a severe disease of citrus worldwide. Double antibody sandwich (DAS) ELISA using a polyclonal antiserum, and triple antibody sandwich (TAS) ELISAs, employing the IgG monoclonal antibody (mab) 13C5, and the IgM mab 2A3, were used to detect CPsV in orchards of different citrus varieties in Campania, southern Italy. TAS ELISA with 13C5 detected all the infections detected by DAS ELISA. Overall, 14% of trees younger than 15 years were positive, but only 1% of older trees, suggesting that infected propagating material has been increasingly used in recent years, in the absence of certification. Highest infection rates were in younger trees of sweet orange (22.8%) and clementine (18.6%). CPsV could easily be detected at all seasons of the year tested (June–January); these and earlier results indicate that TAS ELISA using 13C5 is a sensitive, broad-spectrum and reliable diagnostic method useful for routine tests and certification programmes. Of 44 field isolates responding strongly to DAS ELISA and 13C5-TAS ELISA, mab 2A3 gave similar results with 29 isolates, but gave low values with the others, thus providing a degree of differentiation among isolates. To confirm that the ELISA tests were indeed detecting CPsV, samples of 42 ELISA-positive plants were analysed by ISEM in a blind test, and in 38 of these, characteristic virus particles were clearly seen. Although CPsV was frequently and consistently detected in the area sampled, bark scaling symptoms were not seen: possible reasons for this are discussed.     

Elimination of Citrus psorosis virus by somatic embryogenesis from stigma and style cultures

Somatic embryogenesis was used to eliminate Citrus psorosis virus (CPsV) from three citrus species (common mandarin, sweet orange and Dweet tangor), all of which regenerated somatic embryos with different embryogenic potential from stigma and style explants. CPsV was detected by double antibody sandwich‐indirect‐enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay (DASI-ELISA) in explants and embryogenic callus, but was not detected in any of the plants obtained from somatic embryos, even 24 months after regeneration. Loss of juvenile characters (disappearance of thorns) was observed in the first year of growth and was retained in plants propagated by grafting from thornless stems. Somatic embryogenesis appears to be a very promising technique for the production of healthy citrus stocks.     

Detection of Citrus psorosis virus in field trees by direct tissue blot immunoassay in comparison with ELISA, symptomatology, biological indexing and cross-protection tests

Serological detection of Citrus psorosis virus (CPsV) by direct tissue blot immunoassay (DTBIA) and by double (DAS) and triple (TAS) antibody sandwich ELISA, was compared in samples from various citrus varieties growing in the glasshouse and in the field. In young shoots and leaves, CPsV was readily detected by the three procedures, whereas DTBIA detection in old leaves was less consistent. DTBIA detection and ELISA readings in nine different citrus varieties were similar, suggesting that CPsV accumulates to equivalent levels in all of them. In infected field trees from Spain or Italy, CPsV was consistently detected by TAS ELISA, even in samples of old leaves in winter, whereas DTBIA detection in the same trees was reliable only when using young shoots. Detection of CPsV by DTBIA and by DAS and TAS ELISA in previously untested field trees correlated perfectly with psorosis diagnostics based on biological indexing, specifically with the capacity of those sources to cross-protect against challenge inoculation with psorosis B. Some trees without bark scaling were shown to be psorosis-infected by biological indexing and to contain CPsV by serological tests; other trees showing psorosis-like bark or leaf symptoms in the field were shown to be psorosis-free by biological indexing and also CPsV-free by serology. This is the first time that the presence of CPsV has been correlated with psorosis infection as diagnosed by biological indexing.     

Detection of Citrus Psorosis Virus by ELISA, Molecular Hybridization, RT-PCR and Immunosorbent Electron Microscopy and its Association with Citrus Psorosis Disease

Psorosis is a citrus disease of undemonstrated etiology that can be diagnosed by biological indexing on sweet orange seedlings followed by a cross protection test. Its presumed causal agent is Citrus psorosis virus(CPsV), type species of the genus Ophiovirus. We compared detection of CPsV by ELISA, RT-PCR, molecular hybridization and immunosorbent electron microscopy, and examined its association with psorosis disease in 11 biologically characterized isolates and in 47 uncharacterized field sources by observation of field symptoms and by biological indexing including the cross protection test. Detection of CPsV by any of the four procedures always coincided with diagnosis of psorosis by cross protection, but it did not always correlate with observation of symptoms thought to be specific, in field trees or in graft-inoculated indicator plants. Trials to detect CPsV by ELISA, molecular hybridization and RT-PCR in citrus sources from different geographical origins, presumed to be psorosis-infected on the basis of field symptoms or reaction of indicator plants, were sometimes unsuccessful, indicating that psorosis symptoms may be induced by causes other than CPsV.     

Coincidence of maximum severity of powdery mildew on grape leaves and the carbohydrate sink‐to‐source transition

Grapevine leaves infected with powdery mildew are a source of inoculum for fruit infection. Leaves emerging on a single primary shoot of Vitis vinifera cv. Cabernet Sauvignon were exposed to average glasshouse temperatures of 18°C (0·23 leaves emerging/day) or 25°C (0·54 leaves emerging/day). All leaves on 8–10 shoots with approximately 20 leaves each were inoculated with Erysiphe necator conidia to assess disease severity after 14 days in the 25°C glasshouse. Two photosynthetic ‘source’ leaves per shoot on the remaining 8–10 shoots were treated with ¹⁴CO₂ to identify, by autoradiography, the leaf position completing the carbohydrate sink‐to‐source transition. There was a clear association between the mean modal leaf position for maximum severity of powdery mildew (position 3·7 for 18°C; position 4·4 for 25°C) and the mean position of the leaf completing the sink‐to‐source transition (position 3·8 for 18°C; position 4·7 for 25°C). The mean modal leaf position for the maximum percentage of conidia germinating to form secondary hyphae was 4·2 for additional plants grown in the 25°C glasshouse. A higher rate of leaf emergence resulted in a greater proportion of diseased leaves per shoot. A Bayesian model, consisting of component models for disease severity and leaf ontogenic resistance, had parameters representing the rate and magnitude of pathogen colonization that differed for shoots developing in different preinoculation environments. The results support the hypothesis that the population of leaves in a vineyard capable of supporting substantial pathogen colonization will vary according to conditions for shoot development.     

Influence of temperature on infection and establishment of ‘Candidatus Liberibacter americanus’ and ‘Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus’ in citrus plants

The objectives of this work were (i) to determine the influence of temperature on infection of citrus by ‘Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus’ and ‘Candidatus Liberibacter americanus’, the two bacterial species associated with citrus huanglongbing (HLB) in Brazil, and (ii) to determine the influence of temperature on citrus colonization by ‘Ca. L. asiaticus’, which has taken over from ‘Ca. L. americanus’ as the predominant species in Brazil since 2008. Two experiments were carried out with graft‐inoculated Valencia oranges on Rangpur lime rootstocks. Immediately after inoculation the plants were maintained for 423 days in growth chambers under the following night/day temperature conditions: 17/22, 22/27 or 27/32°C, with a dark/light photoperiod of 8/16 h. Infection and colonization of plants were determined using quantitative PCR (qPCR). ‘Candidatus Liberibacter americanus’ did not infect the plants maintained at 27/32°C; however, infection by ‘Ca. L. asiaticus’ occurred at all studied temperatures. Two months after inoculation, ‘Ca. L. asiaticus’ was distributed throughout the inoculated plants, with mean C_t values in the range of 30–31 for leaves and 25–28 for roots. Over time, ‘Ca. L. asiaticus’ reached the highest titres in mature leaves (mean C_t value = 26·7) of citrus plants maintained at 22/27°C. ‘Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus’ colonization of citrus plants was negatively affected by the daily temperature regime of 27/32°C (mean C_t value in mature leaves = 33·6).     

高温激活RNA沉默介导的心叶烟抗病毒防御反应

 在真核细胞内,RNA沉默是一种保守的抵抗病毒及外源基因等寄生分子的防御机制。温度可以明显地影响植物体与病毒之间的相互作用。在常温状态下,常常会伴随病毒病的爆发,但在较高温度下,症状则会减轻,甚至有些感病植株新生叶片可以较快地恢复健康。目前这类现象的内在机制还不完全清楚。本文通过定量分析不同温度下马铃薯X病毒(Potato virus X,PVX)和马铃薯Y病毒(Potato virus Y,PVY)侵染的心叶烟(Nicotiana glutinosa)植株体内病毒蛋白含量,结合症状观察,确定30℃左右是PVX和PVY在心叶烟上引起症状消失即发生系统性RNA沉默的临界温度,此时的感病植株上部新生展开叶片呈现无症状态,下部已发病叶片症状不变。在常温时,由病毒激发的RNA沉默会受到抑制,病毒来源的小分子干涉RNA (small interfering RNAs,siRNAs)含量极少或根本检测不到,植株对于病毒的敏感性较强。当温度达到30或32℃时,感病植株下部症状保持叶片中,病毒起源的siRNAs含量明显增加,而上部新生健康叶片中却检测不到siRNAs的存在。这说明高温激活了RNA沉默介导的植物抗病毒防御反应,导致病毒症状减轻甚至消失。     

柑桔黄龙病毒研究初报

試驗用萊檬(Citrus aurantifolia)及麻疯柑(C.hystrix)作指示植物,用两广黃龙病区病株接穗嫁接接种,表現脉明、叶脉木栓化、茎部凹斑、及矮化、小叶等典型退化病毒(tristeza virus)所致症状,可知我国柑桔黄龙病与国外柑桔退化病(tristeza)系同一种病毒(或病毒群)所致。无病区的四川江津、湖南溆浦和北京的健康甜橙、桔类、及北京檸檬也带有黄龙病毒,可見黄龙病毒的分布远较病区为广。各种柑桔上所带黄龙病毒株系的強弱不同;在碰柑上的为强毒系,甜橙上的为强毒系或较弱毒系,桔类及北京檸檬上的各别为較弱毒系及弱毒系。     

A Single Amino Acid Mutation in the Plum pox virus Helper Component-Proteinase Gene Abolishes Both Synergistic and RNA Silencing Suppression Activities

ABSTRACT The effects on symptom expression of single amino acid mutations in the central region of the Plum pox virus (PPV) helper component-proteinase (HC-Pro) gene were analyzed in Nicotiana benthamiana using Potato virus X (PVX) recombinant viruses. PVX recombinant virus expressing the wild-type variant of PPV HC-Pro induced the expected enhancement of PVX pathogenicity, manifested as necrosis and plant death. Recombinant virus expressing a variant of PPV HC-Pro containing a single point mutation ( HCL(134)H) was unable to induce this synergistic phenotype. The RNA silencing suppressor activity of PPV HC-Pro was demonstrated in a transient silencing suppression assay. In contrast, the HCL(134)H mutant showed no such activity. These results indicate that a unique point mutation in PPV HC-Pro impaired its ability to suppress RNA silencing and abolished its capacity to induce synergism, and clearly shows for the first time the link between these two functions in potyvirus HC-Pro. Additionally, we compared the effects on virus accumulation in N. benthamiana plants infected with either the PVX recombinant constructs or with native viruses in double infection experiments. PVX (+) and (-) strand genomic RNA accumulated at similar levels in plants infected with PVX recombinants, leading to an increase in PVX pathology, compared with plants infected with PVX alone. This finding confirms that the enhancement of pathogenicity associated with synergistic interaction is not a consequence of more efficient PVX replication due to RNA silencing suppression by PPV HC-Pro.     

Mature plant resistance of potato against some virus diseases. II. Mature plant resistance and the influence of temperature on the ribosome and RNA content in leaves

Potato plants ‘Bintje’ were grown in growth chambers; one group of 27 plants at a daily regime of 15 h light and 9 h darkness with corresponding temperatures of 18 °C and 12°C, and a second group of 27 potato plants at a daily regime of 15 h light and 9 h darkness with corresponding temperatures of 22 °C and 17 °C. The plants of both groups were inoculated with potato virus X (PVX) 56 days after planting. Young leaves had a 3-fold higher ribosome and RNA content than ageing leaves. The decrease occurred earlier at 22 °C than at 18 °C. Although plants grown at 18 C produced smaller and fewer leaves than those grown at 22 C, the former produced a higher weight of tubers than those at the higher temperature. Although corresponding leaves of both groups showed considerable differences in ribosome and RNA contents, the rate of virus translocation to the tubers was equal in both groups. This can be explained by the different growth pattern.     

Amino Acid 129 of Cucumber mosaic virus Coat Protein Determines Local Symptom Expression and Systemic Movement in Tetragonia expansa, Momordica charantia and Physalis floridana

Local symptom expression and systemic movement of Cucumber mosaic virus (CMV) in Tetragonia expansa, Momordica charantia and Physalis floridana were mapped to the amino acid at position 129 of CMV coat protein (CP), using pseudorecombinants, chimeric RNAs, a site-directed mutant of RNA 3 and four strains of CMV : pepo-, SO-, MY17- and Y-CMV. Local and systemic symptoms caused by three strains, pepo-, SO- and MY17-CMV, and those by Y-CMV differed in the three host species. The three strains expressed local chlorotic spots at 24°C and systemic chlorotic spots and ringspots at 36°C, whereas Y-CMV developed local necrotic spots at 24°C but no systemic symptoms at 36°C in T. expansa. In M. charantia the three strains caused systemic chlorotic spots, whereas Y-CMV caused local necrotic spots. The three caused systemic mosaic and Y-CMV systemic necrosis in P. floridana. With pseudorecombinants combined with pepo- and Y-CMV RNAs, CMV RNA 3 was responsible for symptom expression and systemic infection. Inoculation with Y-CMV RNA 1, RNA 2 and chimeric RNA 3s exchanged CP gene fragments between pepo- and Y-CMV showed that NruI-XhoI fragment of CP was essential for symptom expression. Comparative analysis of the NruI-XhoI fragments revealed that only the amino acid at position 129 was common among the three strains but different from that of Y-CMV. Inoculation with a point mutant constructed by substituting one nucleotide resulting in an amino acid change from Ser to Pro at position 129 in Y-CMV CP verified the previous experiments. These results indicate that the amino acid at position 129 of CMV CP is the determinant for local symptom expression and systemic movement in the three host species. CMV CP containing Ser at position 129 may induce resistant responses in these plants. Received 29 June 2001/ Accepted in revised form 28 August 2001     

Effect of temperature on symptom expression and viral spread of Melon yellow spot virus in resistant cucumber accessions

Melon yellow spot virus (MYSV), a member of the genus Tospovirus, is a devastating thrips-transmitted virus of cucurbits in Japan. Recently, we reported that cucumber accessions originating from South Asia, in particular Southeast Asia, had moderate resistance to MYSV. Here, we investigated the effect of three temperatures (20°C, 25°C, and 30°C) on symptom expression and viral spread of MYSV in plants of resistant cucumber accessions. No systemic infection developed in resistant cucumber plants after inoculation with melon isolate MYSV-S at low temperature (20°C); viral spread of MYSV-S and cucumber isolate MYSV-FuCu05P in inoculated cotyledons was suppressed. In contrast, higher incubation temperatures (25°C and 30°C) facilitated viral spread in inoculated cotyledons and systemic infection of MYSV-S. These data suggest that the resistance to MYSV of resistant cucumber accessions is temperature dependent.