Barley yellow dwarf virus in ryegrass and its detection by ELISA

The enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) effectively detected PAV- and MAV-like strains of barley yellow dwarf virus (BYDV) in ryegrass. MAV-like BYDV was found in a large proportion of ryegrass plants with foliar symptoms. There was a poor association between foliar symptoms and PAV-like virus, which occurred with similar frequency in plants with and without symptoms. By August 1982, plots of perennial, Italian and hybrid ryegrass sown at Auchincruive in 1980 were extensively infected with PAV- and MAV-like strains of BYDV. Tests on samples from 1981- and 1982-sown plots in August 1983 also indicated early invasion by BYDV. Infection levels of 7–80% were found in 13 commercial crops of perennial ryegrass surveyed near Auchincruive in May 1983. PAV-like BYDV occurred with greater frequency than did MAV-like strains of the virus.     

Occurrence of barley yellow dwarf viruses in some common grasses (Gramineae) in south west England

The incidence and distribution of aphid transmitted barley yellow dwarf (BYD) viruses (PAV-, RPV- and MAV-like isolates) are described in 14 species of common pasture and hedgerow grasses from five localities of south-west England during 1987 and 1988. Isolates were identified by indirect 'sandwich' ELISA using the monoclonal antibodies MAC91, MAC92 and MAFF2. More infection was detected in 1987 than in 1988 but this was mainly due to a sharp decline at one site. Intensity of infection was greater in Poa annua and Lolium perenne populations than in most other species. BYD was not detected in Arrhenatherum elatius Elymus repens Agrostis canina and A. stolonifera . All three isolates of BYD were widespread. MAV was associated more with localities further north and RPV more with those further south. PAV was common only at the southern-most site. This geographical distribution was reasonably consistent in both years. Given these trends, susceptible grass species fell broadly into three groups with respect to isolate frequency, those predominently infected by RPV and MAV (seven spp.), those equally infected by all isolates (two spp.) and a single species, Poa annua , infected mainly by PAV. Some implications of these findings for the epidemiology and control of BYD viruses are briefly considered.     

Occurrence of barley yellow dwarf virus in cereals and grasses of the low-rainfall wheatbelt of South Australia

South Australia is in the dry temperate zone where most cereal crops are grown in an area of low rainfall, with a crop-free season from December to April. The incidence of barley yellow dwarf virus (BYDV) was assessed by ELISA from 1989 to 1991 in wheat crops and irrigated pastures of South Australia. The incidence of BYDV was low in most wheat crops of the low-rainfall area in 1989 and 1990 (less than 1% of plants infected), but moderate levels of infection (1–10%) were observed in some early-sown crops. BYDV infection was more widespread in the high-rainfall area (south east of South Australia). A high incidence of BYDV was observed in the irrigated pastures of the three areas surveyed (4–86%). Of the five previously described strains, the Rhopalosiphum padi/Sitobion avenae strain (PAV) was the most common in wheat samples (> 90%). PAV and the R. padi-specific strain (RPV) were found in pasture grasses, alone or in mixed infection. Virus incidence was greater in Festuca spp. (56%) and Lolium perenne (30%) than in other species (2-–9%).     

The incidence of strains of barley yellow dwarf virus in perennial ryegrass crops in south-west and central Scotland

The incidence of barley yellow dwarf virus (BYDV) in perennial ryegrass ( Lolium perenne ) crops in four areas of south-west and central Scotland was investigated between March 1988 and February 1989. BYDV was detected in 93·8% of the grass swards using an indirect enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). This enabled the seasonal periodicity of the BYDV strains to be monitored over 12 months for the first time in Scotland. The incidence of the RPV, PAV and MAV strains of BYDV declined between March and July 1988, before gradually rising in August. Incidence increased markedly in September, especially of the RPV and MAV strains, and then gradually decreased over the winter months, before stabilizing in February 1989. The incidence of the different strains in perennial ryegrass leys varied between geographical areas and between fields within areas. Most ryegrass samples contained a mixture of the three strains of BYDV. RPV was the most common strain in Ayrshire, while the incidence of PAV was highest in Wigtownshire and that of MAV was highest in Dumfriesshire and Stirlingshire. The incidence of BYDV increased with the age of the sward. The role of perennial ryegrass as a source of virus for the infection of cereals is discussed.     

Transmission of barley yellow dwarf virus by cereal aphids collected from different habitats on cereal farms

Cereal aphids were collected from cereal crops, from Poa annua within cereal fields, from Lolium perenne pastures and from wild grasses in hedge bottoms and around farm buildings. The frequency of barley yellow dwarf virus (BYDV) transmission was assessed by aphid transmission tests. There were differences in transmission rates between aphid species, between host species and between years. The transmission rates of Rhopalosiphum padi from the different host species were broadly similar whereas for Sitobion avenae, P. annua within cereal fields was significantly better than the other host species. Wild grasses other than P. annua were relatively poor sources of virus. A large percentage of aphids frequently transmitted more than one strain, suggesting that host plants are often infected with more than one BYDV strain.     

Asymmetrical Distribution of Barley Yellow Dwarf Virus PAV Variants Between Host Plant Species

ABSTRACT A large epidemiological study of the genetic variation of barley yellow dwarf virus (BYDV) serotype PAV involving different host plant species was conducted. French BYDV PAV isolates were collected from barley and ryegrass, and their capsid protein gene sequences characterized using restriction fragment length polymorphism, single-strand conformation polymorphism, and sequence analyses. The data show that BYDV PAV isolates from five different continents are separated into two distinct groups named cpA and cpB, which are distributed irrespective of geographical location. Amino acid identity of the capsid proteins ranged from 93 to 99.5% in group cpA and from 95 to 99.5% in group cpB, while this value was only from 82 to 88% between the groups. Moreover, isolates from each group were found preferentially (up to 98%) in one of the two plant species examined. These results show that host plant species play a role in isolate selection and maintenance and that they contribute to the genetic diversity of BYDV PAV.     

The incidence of barley yellow dwarf virus isolates in perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne) in south-western Victoria

Barley yellow dwarf virus (BYDV) was detected in perennial ryegrass cultivars examined from three sites in south-western Victoria (Balmoral, Mininera and Hamilton); the frequency of BYDV infection varied with cultivar. PAV-related isolates were prevalent at all sites, but the incidence of MAV- and RPV-related isolates varied with the site and cultivar. The PAV-related isolate was less frequent in cv. Ellett than in cv. Victorian at all sites. The implications for the epidemiology of the disease and its agronomic importance in Victoria are discussed.     

New experimental hosts of Barley yellow dwarf virus among wild grasses,with implications for grassland habitats

Barley yellow dwarf virus (BYDV), an economically important virus, infects small grain cereal crops and over 150 other Poaceae species. BYDV infection plays an important role in competition among grasses in non‐managed systems, but many grasses remain unexamined as potential BYDV hosts. This study examined grass species that have not been reported as BYDV hosts but are commonly encountered in non‐managed grasslands throughout the United States and Canada. Laboratory inoculations with BYDV‐PAV using the aphid vector Rhopalosiphum padi were performed to examine the ability of 13 grass species and barley to be infected with the virus; eight of the grass species were not documented previously as virus hosts. Serological and molecular assays were used to confirm BYDV‐PAV infection. Plant height, number of leaves, number of tillers and weight were recorded to evaluate susceptibility or sensitivity to BYDV. Infection with BYDV was experimentally achieved for the first time on Achnatherum lettermanii, Achnatherum occidentale, Achnatherum thurberianum, Danthonia intermedia, Poa fendleriana, Sporobolus airoides and Sporobolus cryptandrus, but not on Alopecurus pratensis and Elymus wawawaiensis. Infection was confirmed in Bromus inermis, Elymus elymoides, Poa bulbosa, Poa secunda and Hordeum vulgare, which served as controls. BYDV infection caused reductions in plant height on P. bulbosa and P. fendleriana. BYDV‐infected P. secunda had more leaves per plant compared to healthy plants of the same species. BYDV‐infected A. lettermanii exhibited reduced dry weight in both below‐ground and above‐ground tissue. These findings have implications for the management and conservation of grassland habitats.     

Barley yellow dwarf viruses in Japanese pasture grasses and lack of correlation with the presence of fungal endophytes

Pasture grasses from temperate Japan were tested for infection with barley yellow dwarf viruses (BYDVs) and fungal endophytes. BYDVs from both the MAV and RPV subgroups were detected, but no symptoms attributable to BYDV infection were observed. Not all isolates from the MAV subgroup could be clearly discriminated as MAV or PAV solely on ELISA results, and may have been intermediate serotypes or mixed infections. BYDVs were found to infect fescue ( Festuca arundinacea : 17%), ryegrass ( Lolium perenne : 41%), timothy ( Phleum pratense : 94%) and Poa spp. (20%). Fescue and ryegrass were predominantly infected with RPV and PAV, respectively. The small collections of Poa spp. were only infected with PAV, while timothy was only tested for MAV subgroup viruses. In fescue 26% of tillers were infected with Acremonium coenophialum , and 60% of ryegrass tillers from an ecotype collection were infected with Acremonium lolii. There was no correlation between BYDV infection and the presence of endophytes for the above species or for Epichloe typhina -infected (50%) timothy. An ELISA test for A. lolii did not detect A. coenophialum in fescue or E. typhina in timothy but showed good agreement with epidermal staining of A. lolii in ryegrass leaf sheaths.     

Reservoirs of plant virus disease: Occurrence of wheat dwarf virus and barley/cereal yellow dwarf viruses in Sweden

Non-crop plants such as grasses and volunteer plants are an inseparable part of the flora of crop fields and can influence virus incidence in crop plants. The presence of grasses as virus reservoirs can lead to a higher probability of virus incidence in crop plants. However, the role of reservoirs as an inoculum source in agricultural fields has not been well studied for many viral diseases of crops. Grasses have been found to constitute potential reservoirs for cereal-infecting viruses in different parts of the world. This study revealed that cereal-infecting viruses such as wheat dwarf virus (WDV), barley yellow dwarf viruses (BYDVs), and cereal yellow dwarf virus-RPV (CYDV-RPV) can be found among ryegrass growing in or around winter wheat fields. Phylogenetic analysis showed that a WDV isolate from ryegrass was a typical WDV-E isolate that infects wheat. Similarly, a ryegrass isolate of barley yellow dwarf virus-PAV (BYDV-PAV) grouped in a clade together with other BYDV-PAV isolates. Inoculation experiments under greenhouse conditions confirmed that annual ryegrass of various genotypes can be infected with WDV to a very low titre. Moreover, leafhoppers were able to acquire WDV from infected ryegrass plants, despite the low titre, and transmit the virus to wheat, resulting in symptoms. Information from the grass reservoir may contribute to improving strategies for controlling plant virus outbreaks in the field. Knowledge of the likely levels of virus in potential reservoir plants can be used to inform decisions on insect vector control strategies and may help to prevent virus disease outbreaks in the future.     

Plant community diversity influences vector behaviour and Barley yellow dwarf virus population structure

The species composition of a plant community can affect the distribution and abundance of other organisms including plant pathogens. The goal of this study was to understand the role of host diversity in the transmission of two Barley yellow dwarf virus (BYDV) species that share insect vectors and hosts. Greenhouse experiments measured the transmission rate of BYDV species PAV and PAS from infected oat plants to healthy agricultural and wild grasses and from these species back to healthy oat seedlings. In the field component of the study, the rate of spread of PAV and PAS was measured in monoculture plots planted with agricultural grasses. In greenhouse experiments, the aphid vector more readily transmitted PAV from agricultural grasses and more readily inoculated PAS to the wild grass species assayed. In the field experiment, disease prevalence was greater in wheat, but there was no difference in the rate of spread of PAV and PAS. These results indicate an interaction between vector and host genotype that selects for greater PAV transmission in grain crops, contributes to differences in disease prevalence between grass types, and maintains pathogen diversity within the larger plant community (i.e. agricultural and non‐agricultural hosts).     

Effects of barley yellow dwarf and ryegrass mosaic viruses alone and in combination on the productivity of perennial and Italian ryegrasses

Moderately severe strains of barley yellow dwarf virus (BYDV) and ryegrass mosaic virus (RMV) significantly reduced the heights and yields of perennial ( Lolium perenne ) and Italian (L. multifiorum) ryegrasses. BYDV caused greater reductions in perennial ryegrass than in Italian, whereas the converse was true of RMV. Both viruses together rarely caused greater damage than the most damaging virus on its own. BYDV reduced the aggressiveness of perennial ryegrass more than of Italian, whereas with RMV the converse was true. In mixtures of perennial and Italian ryegrasses, the perennial was suppressed by the Italian when only BYDV was present, the Italian was suppressed by the perennial when only RMV was present, and the status quo was maintained when both viruses were present, even though they reduced the yield of the mixture by over 16%.     

Characterization of maize streak virus: description of strains; symptoms

Twenty-four isolates of maize streak virus (MSV) derived from maize, sugarcane and grasses were compared to a maize isolate of the virus (M(N)M) from Nigeria, using symptoms, gel diffusion and ELISA. Fourteen isolates were identified as maize strains, eight other isolates were serologically related to M(N)M but were distinct. In most cases the maize strain could be identified by the symptoms in Zea mays cv. Golden Bantam but symptom expression in grasses was not always sufficient to identify the economically important maize strain. In general, however, symptoms were similar in both grass and maize hosts. Identification by symptoms alone was further complicated by the possibility that some isolates were mixtures. There was no evidence that adaptation to grass hosts occurred, as all isolates could be transmitted to maize. It was not possible to transmit certain strains to the host species from which they were derived, even though they were transmissible to other hosts. This was assumed to be related to vector feeding behaviour. Insect toxin was responsible for certain stunting symptoms, leaf curling and vein enations often associated with MSV.     

The invasive weed Ventenata dubia is a host of Barley yellow dwarf virus with implications for an endangered grassland habitat

Ventenata dubia (African wiregrass), a winter annual weed, is a non‐native species invading grasslands, rangelands and pastures throughout the USA. Limited information is available on its suitability as a host to pathogens and insects in its invaded range. The barley/cereal yellow dwarf virus (B/CYDV) complex occurs ubiquitously in Poaceae species. In non‐managed grasslands, BYDV infection influences competitive dynamics between native and invasive grasses and facilitates invasion by non‐native annual weeds. The Palouse prairie of south‐eastern Washington and northern Idaho, USA, is an endangered ecosystem. Surveys of V. dubia in Palouse prairie and neighbouring Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) habitats were conducted to determine whether B/CYDV viral species are present. Laboratory tests examined the suitability of V. dubia to host BYDV‐PAV and serve as an inoculum source. Plant growth and weight parameters were measured to gauge the impact of BYDV‐PAV on V. dubia. Infection of V. dubia in Palouse prairie and CRP habitats with two species of BYDV, PAV and SGV, was detected for the first time. The ability of BYDV‐PAV to infect V. dubia in the laboratory and transmission from infected V. dubia to barley were demonstrated. BYDV‐PAV‐infected V. dubia showed reductions in plant height, number of leaves and tillers per plant, and above‐ground dry weight, suggesting that V. dubia is sensitive to BYDV. Results demonstrate that V. dubia is a host to BYDV and may serve as a virus inoculum source with potential implications for its management, competitive dynamics between invasive and native grasses and future conservation of endangered grasslands.     

A comparative study of the Barley yellow dwarf virus species PAV and PAS: distribution,accumulation and host resistance

This study investigated the distribution and characteristics of the Barley yellow dwarf virus (BYDV) species BYDV‐PAS, which was recently separated from BYDV‐PAV, the most commonly studied BYDV species. Throughout 3 years of experimental monitoring of BYDV incidence, PAS was the most frequently occurring species infecting cereals and grasses in the Czech Republic. Furthermore, Rhopalosiphum maidis and Metopolophium dirhodum were recorded as BYDV‐PAS vectors, even though M. dirhodum does not usually transmit BYDV‐PAV. In field experiments with barley and wheat, where virus accumulation, symptoms and effect on the yield were tested, BYDV‐PAV was more severe than PAS. Infection with the BYDV‐PAV isolate resulted in greater expression of symptoms and also in a greater reduction in plant height and grain weight per spike than BYDV‐PAS. In a sensitive cultivar of barley (Graciosa), the amount of viral RNA of BYDV‐PAV was also significantly higher than that of BYDV‐PAS. In a tolerant line (Wbon‐123), however, no such differences were found. In conclusion, although BYDV‐PAS seems to be dominant in the Czech Republic, BYDV‐PAV has the potential to cause more significant crop losses in barley and wheat.     

Effects of different cultivated or weed grasses, grown as pure stands or in combination with wheat, on take-all and its suppression in subsequent wheat crops

Grass species were grown in plots, as pure stands or mixed with wheat, after a sequence of wheat crops in which take-all ( Gaeumannomyces graminis var. tritici ) had developed. Annual brome grasses maintained take-all inoculum in the soil as well as wheat (grown as a continuous sequence), and much better than cultivated species with a perennial habit. Take-all developed more in wheat grown after Anisantha sterilis (barren brome) or Bromus secalinus (rye brome), with or without wheat, than in continuous grass-free wheat in the same year, where take-all decline was apparently occurring. It was equally or more severe, however, in wheat grown after Lolium perenne (rye-grass) or Festuca arundinacea (tall fescue), despite these species having left the least inoculum in the soil. It was most severe in plots where these two grasses had been grown as mixtures with wheat. It is postulated that the presence of these grasses inhibited the development of take-all-suppressive microbiota that had developed in the grass-free wheat crops. The effects of the grasses appeared to be temporary, as amounts of take-all in a second subsequent winter wheat test crop were similar after all treatments. These results have important implications for take-all risk in wheat and, perhaps, other cereal crops grown after grass weed-infested cereals or after set-aside or similar 1-year covers containing weeds or sown grasses, especially in combination with cereal volunteers. They also indicate that grasses might be used experimentally in wheat crop sequences for investigating the mechanisms of suppression of, and conduciveness to, take-all.     

Differences in MAT gene distribution and expression between Rhynchosporium species on grasses

Leaf blotch is a globally important disease of barley crops and other grasses that is caused by at least five host‐specialized species in the fungal genus Rhynchosporium. The pathogen R. commune (specialized to barley, brome‐grass and Italian ryegrass) has long been considered to reproduce only by asexual means, but there has been accumulating evidence for recombination and gene flow from population genetic studies and the detection of complementary MAT1‐1 and MAT1‐2 isolates in a c. 1:1 ratio in the field. Here, it is demonstrated that 28 isolates of the closely related species R. agropyri (on couch‐grass) and R. secalis (on rye and triticale), collected from Europe, were also either of MAT1‐1 or MAT1‐2 genotype and that the distribution of mating types did not deviate significantly from a 1:1 ratio. Evidence is then provided for MAT1‐1‐1 and MAT1‐2‐1 gene expression during mycelial growth for all three species. By contrast, 27 isolates of the more distantly related R. orthosporum (on cocksfoot) and R. lolii (on Italian and perennial ryegrasses) from Europe were exclusively of the MAT1‐1 genotype, and expression of the MAT1‐1‐1 gene could not be detected during mycelial growth. These data suggest that cryptic sexual cycles are more likely to exist for R. commune, R. agropyri and R. secalis than for either R. orthosporum or R. lolii. A phylogenetic analysis of partial MAT1‐1 idiomorph sequences resolved these five species into two distinct groups (R. commune, R. agropyri and R. secalis versus R. orthosporum and R. lolii) but provided only limited resolution within each group.     

Alteration of plant species mixtures by virus infection: Managed pastures the forgotten dimension

What occurs when virus infection is spreading within a mixed plant species population? This question is important not only for economically significant, mixed species managed systems but also for environmentally significant mixed wild species populations. It received attention in recently published ecological studies on wild plant species, but these, and recent general pasture research publications, rarely mention earlier virus studies involving mixed species managed pasture. This review seeks to rectify that situation. It describes 10 diverse examples of past research on mixed species managed pasture done over two decades on three continents that demonstrated plant species balance changes arising from virus infection. These examples showed that plants belonging to susceptible pasture cultivars sensitive to systemic virus infection are sufficiently weakened that their ability to withstand competition from nonhost plants of other pasture species, or weed species, was diminished sufficiently to alter the plant species balance. Also, a similar alteration occurred when they were competing with virus-resistant or virus-tolerant host plants of the same or other pasture species, or a virus-resistant weed species. Such competition also diminished seed production, which decreased their ability to regenerate. Notably, as reported subsequently with wild plant species populations, when two different pasture species infected by the same virus compete with each other, growth of the more sensitive species is suppressed. Because managed mixed species pastures constitute an important component of regenerative agriculture, retaining an optimal balance of pasture species and delaying pasture decline from weed invasion both require effective management of virus diseases.     

从麦类种质资源中筛选大麦黄矮病毒(BYDV)抗原

用 ELISA 法鉴定了小麦近缘种赖草属(Leymus)、披碱草属(Elymus)、鹅冠草属(Roegneria)3个属的21个种,其中17个种抗 BYDV。21145份小麦品种中筛选到症状轻、病毒含量高的耐病品种忻县冬麦、江西早等29份。3604份大麦品种中筛选到症状轻、病毒含量低的抗病品种C13208、小麦近缘种(Agropyronintemedium)和普通小麦杂交的异源八倍体中4无芒,中5,远中7,陇远45、46,远中1001,忻4079以及附加系 L1。现已获得抗 BYDV 的以中4无芒、L1为亲本的杂交后代。     

Pasture ecology of barley yellow dwarf viruses at Sandford, Tasmania

Samples of cocksfoot ( Dactylis glomerata ), fescue ( Festuca arundinacea ), phalaris ( Phalaris aquatica ) and ryegrass ( Lolium perenne ) were collected every 4-6 weeks for 2.5 years from two sets of replicated plots, one on a heavy soil and the other on a light soil 200 m away. Rhopalosiphum padi was the predominant aphid species; it was more frequent at the heavy soil site. Sitobion fragariae and Metopolophium dirhodum occurred infrequently during the last 12 months of the survey.
Only PAV (57%), RPV (26%) and mixed infections (17%) of these barley yellow dwarf viruses were detected in the 4100 tillers sampled. Virus incidence increased over the sampling period and was consistently higher at the heavy soil site. RPV only became frequent during the last 12 months.
Virus incidence was higher in fescue (21%) and ryegrass (27%), in which PAV predominated, than in cocksfoot (6%) and phalaris (7%), in which RPV finally predominated.