Improved PCR detection of potyviruses in <Emphasis Type="Italic">Allium</Emphasis> species

Protocols for producing virus-free Allium plants require an indexing system that is more sensitive than DAS-ELISA and can detect low virus concentrations in infected plants. In the present work, degenerate primers were designed and a one-step IC-RT-PCR protocol was developed to differentiate between Leek yellow stripe virus (LYSV) and Onion yellow dwarf virus (OYDV) in single and mixed infections in several Allium spp. A 566-bp band was observed for LYSV, a 489-bp band for OYDV in single infections, and two bands of the same sizes in mixed infections in different species of Alliaceae. A 508-bp band of Shallot yellow stripe virus and a 594-bp band of Turnip mosaic virus were also amplified with the same primers. RT-nested-PCR was also conducted directly in microtitre plate wells after negative or questionable reactions were produced in an ELISA experiment. The detection limit of the DAS-ELISA for LYSV was 16.5–27.3 ng ml⁻¹. The RT-nested-PCR done after DAS-ELISA was 10² times more sensitive than the DAS-ELISA alone. In parallel, an IC-RT-nested-PCR in microcentrifuge tubes was 10⁴ times more sensitive than the DAS-ELISA. The DAS-ELISA-RT-nested-PCR enables the initial screening of samples by DAS-ELISA to eliminate a high percentage of virus-positive plants, considerably reducing the number of plants to analyze further by RT-PCR.     

Efficiency of eradication of four viruses from garlic (Allium sativum) by meristem-tip culture

Mechanical inoculation tests and ELISA with sap from garlic plants used for sanitation by meristem-tip culture revealed four viruses, viz. garlic common latent virus (GCLV) (carlavirus), the garlic strains of leek yellow stripe virus (LYSV-G), onion yellow dwarf virus (OYDV-G) (aphid-borne potyviruses), and onion mite-borne latent virus (OMbLV-G) (taxonomically unassigned virus). The same tests performed on explants grownin vitro showed elimination efficiencies of 100% for LYSV-G, 92% for OYDV-G, 62% for GCLV, and less then 54% for OMbLV-G.Meristem tips excised from garlic cloves and bulbils, 0.15–1.0 mm in size, were tested for regeneration and efficiency of virus elimination after transfer to Murashige and Skoog medium. Successful regeneration into plantlets was obtained with 71% of the meristems from cloves and 72% of those from bulbils, but virus elimination was easiest from cloves: 38% of all explants from cloves and 25% of those from bulbils were virus-free. The efficiency of elimination increased with increasing weight of the cloves, irrespective of the virus. Small tip size seemed to favour virus elimination, but sizes smaller than 0.4 mm led to increasing failure of regeneration.Micropropagation was most successful when cytokinins were omitted from the medium and the garlic shoot was split. Multiplication factors of 3–6 were obtained.     

A Survey of Viruses of Alstroemeria in the UK and the Characterisation of Carlaviruses Infecting Alstroemeria

Alstroemeria samples collected in the UK were tested for a range of viruses using ELISA. Alstroemeria mosaic virus (AlMV), alstroemeria carlavirus (AlCV), lily symptomless virus (LSV), cucumber mosaic virus (CMV) and tobacco rattle virus (TRV) were detected either singly or in combination in 67.5% of 203 samples. AlCV and LSV isolates from Alstroemeria and lily were studied and characterised serologically using existing antisera, and by PCR, using primers to an 11kDa open reading frame (ORF) unique to carlaviruses and to the coat protein gene of LSV. Sequences of isolates of AlCV and LSV from the coat protein gene were 94–99% similar and were 99% similar in the 11kDa ORF, supporting the view that these are strains of the same virus.     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">Turnip yellow mosaic virus</Emphasis> isolated from Chinese cabbage in Japan

A virus that caused a distinct yellow mosaic was isolated in Okayama, Japan from Chinese cabbage (Brassica rapa L., Pekinensis group). The virus, with spherical particles ca. 28 nm in diameter, was mechanically transmissible only to cruciferous species. From the host range, characteristic morphology of virus particles, serology and sequence analysis of coat protein gene, the causal virus was identified as Turnip yellow mosaic virus (TYMV). Seed transmission of TYMV at 0–2.2% in Chinese cabbage was confirmed. This report is the first of TYMV from Chinese cabbage and in Japan. The nucleotide sequence data reported are available in the DDBJ/EMBL/GenBank databases as accessions AB358971 and AB358972.     

Mite-borne virus isolates from cultivated Allium species,and their classification into two new rymoviruses in the family Potyviridae

While testing several samples of onion and of vegetatively propagated garlic, sand leek and shallot from a number of countries, virus isolates with unusually flexuous particles were obtained by mite (Aceria tulipae) or sap transmissions. No aphid-borne poty-or carlavirus was transmitted by mites, and mite-borne virus isolates could not be transmitted by aphids. The mite-borne isolates did not react with antisera to aphid-borne potyviruses ofAllium spp. or with the Agdia potyvirus group monoclonal. In contrast to the mite-borne onion and garlic mosaic viruses reported in the literature, our mite-borne isolates induced no visible or only very mild symptoms inAllium spp., except isolates from shallot ‘Santé’ which caused diffuse striping. Heavily mite-infested test plants or plant samples showed streaking and malformation due to mite feeding (tangle-top). The mite-borne virus isolates could be classified with test plants and a discriminating antiserum into three groups, representing two viruses and a strain of one of them. They are tentatively named onion mite-borne latent virus (OMbLV), garlic strain of this virus (OMbLV-G), and shallot mite-borne latent virus (SMbLV). Mite transmission, length of virus particles (ca. 700 to 800 nm), and the presence of granular inclusion bodies in infected tissue indicate that the viruses belong to the mite-borne genusRymovirus of the familyPotyviridae. OMbLV from shallot and onion, and OMbLV-G from garlic and sand leek, can be assayed onChenopodium murale but differ in their natural hosts. They are very common. SMbLV, to whichC. murale does not react, was isolated from shallot originating from Asia and Russia.     

Viruses and virus diseases in Dutch bulbous irises (Iris hollandica) in the Netherlands

The occurrence in Dutch bulbous irises (Iris hollandica) of two viruses — iris mild mosaic virus (IMMV) and iris severe mosaic virus (ISMV) — in association with two diseases — mosaic (mozaïek) and grey (grijs) — was reported so far. In the Netherlands, three virus diseases have been distinguished: mild mosaic (mozaïek), mild yellow mosaic (bont), and severe mosaic (grijs). These diseases were associated with IMMV (750 nm), IMMV plus iris mild yellow mosaic virus (IMYMV, a newly recognized virus; 660 nm), and IMMV plus ISMV (750 nm), respectively. The viruses are antigenically distinct and their presence could be established serologically. Tobacco mosaic virus (TMV), tobacco rattle virus (TRV), and tobacco ringspot virus (TRSV) were also detected in irises, but not in association with particular symptoms.Generally, the symptoms of the diseases can be distinguished early in the growing season, particularly in March. Later on, the distinctive symptoms mostly disappear on plants showing mild symptoms but not on severely affected plants. Growing and forcing conditions influence the symptoms. The IMYMV and the ISMV transmitted in May and early in June byMacrosiphum euphorbiae cause more severe symptoms than those induced by transmissions late in June and in July. Problems related to disease control in irises are discussed.Samenvatting Het virusonderzoek bij Hollandse irissen (Iris hollandica) in Nederland leidde tot het onderscheiden van drie ziekten, namelijk: het mozaïek (mild mosaic), het bont (mild yellow mosaic) en het grijs (severe mosaic). Het voorkomen van iris-mozaïek virus (deeltjeslengte 750 nm), iris-mozaïek virus plus iris-bontvirus (660 nm) en iris-mozaïekvirus plus iris-grijsvirus (750 nm), welke virussen serologisch zijn te onderscheiden, werd in verband gebracht met respectievelijk het mozaïek, het bont en het grijs. Geen verband werd gevonden tussen het voorkomen van tabaksmozaïekvirus, tabaksratelvirus en tabakskringvlekkenvirus en de genoemde ziekten.Op basis van de symptomen zijn de ziekten te velde vroeg in het voorjaar meestal wel te onderscheiden. Later in het groeiseizoen verdwijnt dit onderscheid veelal bij planten met milde symptomen, maar niet bij planten met ernstige symptomen. De symptomen van het mozaïek worden pas een paar maanden na de opkomst van de planten zichtbaar. De licht- en donkergroene mozaïeksymptomen doen zich duidelijk voor omstreeks de bloei. Het bont is bij opkomst te herkennen aan het geelgroene mozaïek, dat voornamelijk aan de bladranden voorkomt (Fig. 1). Na de lengtegroei van de planten worden de symptomen op de bloemscheden en op de brede bladgedeelten zichtbaar (Fig. 2). Het grijs (Fig. 2) uit zich met brede geel-en donkergroene strepen op de bladeren, die tot onder het grondniveau doorlopen en bij opkomst duidelijk zichtbaar zijn. Het geelgroene, soms streepvormige mozaïek blijft bij de lengtegroei van de planten duidelijk zichtbaar op de bladbases. Ernstige grijs-symptomen zijn bloembreking, gedraaide stand van smallere bladeren en dwerggroei van de planten. De duidelijkheid van de ziektebeelden, zowel van het mozaïek als van het bont en het grijs, is afhankelijk van de cultivar en van de teeltomstandigheden te velde en in de kas.Het iris-bontvirus en het iris-grijsvirus geven bij overdracht door de bladluis (Macrosiphum euphorbiae) in mei en in de eerste helft van juni in het volgende groeiseizoen ernstiger aangetaste planten dan bij latere overdracht.De mogelijkheden van de herkenning en de bestrijding van virusaantastingen in iriissen worden beschreven.     

海南甘蔗病毒病的调查及其病原分子鉴定

 海南是我国重要的甘蔗生产省份之一,但其甘蔗主要种植区感染病毒的种类和数量尚不十分清楚,且海南甘蔗花叶病病原病毒缺乏分子水平的系统鉴定。为明确海南甘蔗病毒病的种类、数量、分布及危害情况,本研究拟建立较为完整的甘蔗病毒病检测技术体系,对海南甘蔗病毒病展开调查,为甘蔗抗病毒基因工程及健康种苗发展提供参考。     

我国粮食作物病毒病发生与防控现状

近年来,我国水稻、小麦、玉米病毒病发生严重,造成重大经济损失。本文就近年来水稻、小麦和玉米等主要粮食作物上水稻条纹叶枯病、水稻黑条矮缩病、南方水稻黑条矮缩病、小麦黄花叶病以及玉米粗缩病的发生现状、防控情况,以及防控过程中存在的问题作简要概述,并展望下一阶段防控任务。     

引起甘蔗花叶病的病原分子生物学进展

花叶病是最主要的甘蔗病毒病害之一,在全球种植甘蔗的国家或地区普遍发生,可导致甘蔗产量下降,糖分减少,给甘蔗生产带来严重的经济损失。引起甘蔗花叶病的病毒主要有甘蔗花叶病毒(Sugarcane mosaic virus,SCMV)、高粱花叶病毒(Sorghum mosaic virus,Sr MV)和甘蔗条纹花叶病毒(Sugarcane streak mosaic virus,SCSMV)。本文综述了这3种病毒的生物学特性、鉴定与检测、基因组结构与基因功能、遗传变异与分子进化等方面的研究进展,并讨论了对甘蔗花叶病的生态防控措施。     

Incidence of viruses in <Emphasis Type="Italic">Alstroemeria</Emphasis> plants cultivated in Japan and characterization of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Broad bean wilt virus-2, Cucumber mosaic virus</Emphasis> and <Emphasis Type="Italic">Youcai mosaic virus</Emphasis>

Alstroemeria plants were surveyed for viruses in Japan from 2002 to 2004. Seventy-two Alstroemeria plants were collected from Aichi, Nagano, and Hokkaido prefectures and 54.2% were infected with some species of virus. The predominant virus was Alstroemeria mosaic virus, followed by Tomato spotted wilt virus, Youcai mosaic virus (YoMV), Cucumber mosaic virus (CMV), Alstroemeria virus X and Broad bean wilt virus-2 (BBWV-2). On the basis of nucleotide sequence of the coat protein genes, all four CMV isolates belong to subgroup IA. CMV isolates induced mosaic and/or necrosis on Alstroemeria. YoMV and BBWV-2 were newly identified by traits such as host range, particle morphology, and nucleotide sequence as viruses infecting Alstroemeria. A BBWV-2 isolate also induced mosaic symptoms on Alstroemeria seedlings.     

2b Protein is essential to induce a novel gradual cell death in Zucchini yellow mosaic virus-inoculated cucumber cotyledon co-infected with Cucumber mosaic virus

Cucumber cotyledons inoculated with Cucumber mosaic virus (CMV, Pepo strain) or Zucchini yellow mosaic virus (ZYMV, Z5-1 isolate) developed either mild chlorotic spots or no symptoms. Cotyledons treated with CMV plus ZYMV also developed mild chlorotic spots. However, plants ZYMV-inoculated cotyledons had veinal yellowing and gradual cell death by 20 days postinoculation (dpi) when co-inoculated with CMV on the other cotyledon. When analyzing this synergism, an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay showed that CMV gradually increased in CMV-inoculated cotyledons of plants, with the other cotyledon mock- or ZYMV-inoculated. However, CMV significantly increased at 9 to 14 dpi in the ZYMV-inoculated cotyledons of plants co-infected with CMV. ZYMV similarly increased in cotyledon pairs of both co-infected and singly infected plants. Inoculation with PepoΔ2b, a modified Pepo-CMV that lacks translation of the 2b protein, revealed that PepoΔ2b without the 2b protein systemically infected cucumber but induced no symptoms on cotyledons or true leaves. Plants with a ZYMV-inoculated cotyledon and co-infected with PepoΔ2b did not undergo cell death; nevertheless, PepoΔ2b was at high levels comparable to levels of CMV in the ZYMV-inoculated cotyledon. The 2b protein thus seems essential for induction of the novel gradual cell death in ZYMV-inoculated cotyledons of cucumbers co-infected with CMV.     

The genetic structure of populations of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Turnip mosaic virus</Emphasis> in Kyushu and central Honshu,Japan

The genetic structure of the populations of Turnip mosaic virus in Kyushu and central Honshu, Japan was assessed. The host specificity of isolates was determined, and their gene sequences compared utilizing a population genetic approach. Phylogenetic analysis of partial sequences revealed that 32 of 49 Honshu isolates (65%) collected during 1997–2001 belonged to the basal-BR group as did 23 of 64 isolates from Kyushu. All these basal-BR isolates infected both Brassica and Raphanus plants. However, analyses of the positions of recombination sites in five regions of the genome (one third of the full sequence) showed that at least four intra-lineage recombinants were present in these populations. These analyses showed that Kyushu and Honshu shared none of these subpopulations, and genetically distinct basal-BR populations were present in the two districts. We conclude that different basal-BR subpopulations had expanded into those districts. The nucleotide sequences are deposited in the DDBJ/EMBL/GenBank databases under accession numbers AB267281-AB267376.     

Immunodetection of the replicative complex of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Barley yellow dwarf</Emphasis><Emphasis Type="Italic">virus</Emphasis>-PAV <Emphasis Type="Italic">in vivo</Emphasis>

The genomic fragments of two open reading frames (ORFs) 1 and 2 of German and Canadian PAV isolates of Barley yellow dwarf virus (BYDV-PAV) were sequenced. Sequences only slightly differed from previously published sequences of this virus. Two polyclonal antisera against proteins encoded by ORFs 1 and 2 of a German ASL-1 isolate were developed using recombinant antigens expressed in E. coli as a fusion either to His₆− or thioredoxin-tags. In Western blot analysis with total protein extracts from BYDV infected plants, antisera efficiently recognized the 99 kDa fusion protein expressed from ORF1 and ORF2 (P1–P2 protein). Later in infection the P1–P2 protein disappeared and two smaller proteins, revealing sizes of 39 and 60 kDa, could be detected.     

Molecular characterisation of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Turnip mosaic virus</Emphasis> isolates from Brassicaceae weeds

Eight provinces of Iran were surveyed during 2003–2008 to find Brassicaceae reservoir weed hosts of Turnip mosaic virus (TuMV). A total of 532 weed samples were collected from plants with virus-like symptoms. The samples were tested for the presence of TuMV by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay using specific antibodies. Among those tested, 340 samples (64%) were found to be infected with TuMV. Rapistrum rugosum, Sisymberium loeselii, S. irio and Hirschfeldia incana were identified as the Brassicaceae weed hosts of TuMV, and the former two plant species were found to be the most important weed hosts for the virus in Iran. The full-length sequences of the genomic RNAs of IRN TRa6 and IRN SS5 isolates from R. rugosum and S. loeselii were determined. No evidence of recombination was found in both isolates using different recombination-detecting programmes. Phylogenetic analyses of the weed isolates with representative isolates from the world showed that the IRN TRa6 and IRN SS5 isolates fell into an ancestral basal-Brassica group. This study shows for the first time the wide distribution and phylogenetic relationships of TuMV from weeds in the mid-Eurasia of Iran.     

解淀粉芽胞杆菌对小麦黄花叶病的生物防治

为探索新型生防菌剂解淀粉芽胞杆菌对小麦黄花叶病的防治作用,通过盆栽和田间药效试验研究了解淀粉芽胞杆菌对小麦黄花叶病的防治效果和对小麦幼苗的促生长作用。结果表明,解淀粉芽胞杆菌对小麦黄花叶病有较好的预防效果和一定的治疗效果,浓度为500~2 000 mg/L时,预防效果为24.86%~84.55%,治疗效果为13.61%~62.58%,预防效果明显优于治疗效果。其中灌根处理的防治效果显著高于喷雾、拌种处理,且随着施用浓度的增大,防治效果提高;当灌根处理浓度为2 000 mg/L时效果最好,预防和治疗效果分别达到84.55%和62.58%。另外解淀粉芽胞杆菌对小麦有一定的促生作用,并可提高麦苗的地上部鲜重,浓度为1 200 mg/L时,地上部鲜重增重最大,较对照提高52.76%。表明解淀粉芽胞杆菌可作为生防菌剂防治小麦黄花叶病。     

In vitro but not in planta encapsidation of Rice gall dwarf virus core particles by the outer capsid P8 protein of Rice dwarf virus expressed in transgenic rice plants

Transencapsidation of the Rice gall dwarf virus (RGDV) inner core by the Rice dwarf virus (RDV) outer capsid P8 protein was examined in vitro and in planta. When RGDV core particles were incubated with an extract from RDV P8-transgenic rice leaf tissue, RDV P8 encapsidated the RGDV core particles to form double-shelled virus-like particles in vitro. In contrast, when RDV P8-transgenic rice plants were inoculated with RGDV, progeny RGDV particles contained RGDV P8 but RDV P8 was not detectable in the virions. No significant differences were found in acquisition by the vector insects and subsequent transmission rates between RGDV infecting nontransgenic rice plants and those infecting RDV P8-transgenic rice plants. These results indicate that mechanisms of and/or requirements for interactions between P8 and the inner core particles of phytoreoviruses differ between in vitro and in planta.     

Positional effect of gene insertion on genetic stability of a clover yellow vein virus-based expression vector

The stability of the inserted genes in the viral expression vector varied depending on the sequence introduced and the position of insertion. Infectious cDNA to Clover yellow vein virus (pClYVV) was modified to insert a foreign gene at two independent sites: one, along with a polylinker, between the NIb and CP genes (pClYVV/CP/W) and the other between P1 and HC-Pro (pClYVV-Pst/CP). The green fluorescent protein (GFP) gene was inserted into either pClYVV/CP/W or pClYVV-Pst/CP. GFP gene was stably maintained and expressed in both vectors following serial passages in plants. Progeny viruses from both constructs accumulated in similar amounts and at rates of 70%–80% of that of the wild-type virus. On the other hand, progeny viruses carrying the human interferon- (hIFN) gene cloned in pClYVV-Pst/CP were genetically unstable owing to frequent deletions of the cloned gene during passage through plants. In contrast, the hIFN sequence cloned in pClYVV/CP/W was stably maintained in viruses after several passages in broad bean plants, and the progeny virus accumulated at the rate of about 50%–100% of that of the wild-type virus. The nucleotide sequence analyses indicated that the genetic instability of the inserted sequence results from homologous recombination of viral vector and inserted DNA sequences; it is not due to the inserted sequence alone.     

Comparison of the nucleotide and amino acid sequences of parental and attenuated isolates of Zucchini yellow mosaic virus

To identify possible sites of viral attenuation, the complete nucleotide sequences of two isolates of Zucchini yellow mosaic virus (ZYMV) were determined; a severe isolate Z5-1 and an attenuated isolate from Z5-1 (designated ZYMV-2002). The viral genome of both isolates consisted of 9593 nucleotides in size and contained an open reading frame encoding a single polyprotein of 3080 amino acids. Comparison of the nucleotide sequences for Z5-1 and ZYMV-2002 revealed 14 nucleotide mutations, resulting in seven amino acid substitutions with four in the HC-Pro region, two in the CI region, and one in the NIb region. These results provide a genetic basis for future manipulation of the ZYMV reverse genetics system. The nucleotide sequence data reported are available in the DDBJ/EMBL/GenBank databases under the accession numbers AB188115 and AB188116