Virus transmission by aphids in potato crops

This paper reviews the contribution of vector activity and plant age to virus spread in potato crops. Determining which aphid species are vectors is particularly important for timing haulm destruction to minimize tuber infection by potato virus Y (PVY). Alate aphids of more than 30 species transmit PVY, and aphids such asRhopalosiphum padi, that migrate in large numbers before flights of the more efficient vector,Myzus persicae, appear to be important vectors. Differences in methodology, aphid biotypes and virus strains prevent direct comparisons between estimates of vector efficiencies obtained for aphids in different countries in north western Europe. M. persicae is also the most efficient vector of potato leafroll virus (PLRV), but some clones ofMacrosiphum euphorbiae transmit PLRV efficiently toNicotiana clevelandii and potato test plants. The removal of infected plants early in the season prevents the spread of PLRV in cool regions with limited vector activity. The proportion of aphids acquiring PLRV from infected potato plants decreases with plant age, and healthy potato plants are more resistant to infection later in the season. Severe symptoms of secondary leafroll developed on progeny plants of cv. Maris Piper derived from mother plants inoculated with PLRV in June or July of the previous year. Progeny plants derived from mother plants inoculated in August showed only mild symptoms, but the concentration of PLRV in these plants was as high as that in the plants with severe symptoms.     

Production and evaluation of monoclonal antibodies for the detection of beet mild yellowing luteovirus and related strains

A sugar-beet-infecting isolate of beet mild yellowing luteovirus (BMYV), and aBrassica-infecting isolate of beet western yellows luteovirus (BWYV) were used to produce monoclonal antibodies for epidemiological studies with BMYV and related field strains. Thirty-four monoclonal antibodies were tested for their reaction with 9 luteoviruses in triple-antibody-sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. One (MAFF 24) is now routinely used in the UK for detecting BMYV and BWYV in plants and aphids, although it does not discriminate between them. Heterologous reactions were detected between some of the monoclonal antibodies and potato leafroll virus (PLRV), bean leafroll virus (BLRV) and barley yellow dwarf virus (BYDV-RPV). 38% of antibodies raised to BWYV reacted with PLRV compared with 4% of those raised to BMYV. Monoclonal antibodies were produced which distinguished a sugar-beet-infecting isolate of BMYV with differing host range and serological properties from the commonly-occurring field strain.     

Evaluation of Chinese Triticeae for resistance to Barley Yellow Dwarf Virus (BYDV)

Summary Barley Yellow Dwarf Virus (BYDV) is recognised as a major pathological constraint to cereal production in northern China and several widespread epidemics have been reported. The host range of BYDV includes not only cereals but many grasses. The indigenous Triticeae of northern China have likely been exposed to significant disease pressure from BYDV and therefore may be a potential source of BYDV resistance for cereal improvement. A wide range of Triticeae accessions collected over three expeditions in northern China were evaluated for resistance to BYDV. Seedlings were artificially inoculated and virus levels then assayed by ELISA. Resistance and immunity to BYDV were found to be widely distributed among the seven genera of Triticeae included in the screening. A high proportion of resistant and immune accessions was found in the genera Hordeum, Leymus, Elymus and Elytrigia. The wide range of reaction types to BYDV found within many species, and even between accessions of some species, indicates that natural selection for BYDV resistance may have been relatively recent in the Chinese Triticeae. A high proportion of resistance and/or immunity was found in Xinjiang compared to the general distribution. From the Chinese Triticeae tested the Leymus species may be the most appropriate material to initiate transfer of BYDV resistance to wheat.     

Evidence that resistance to potato leafroll virus accumulation in tetraploidsolarium tuberosum L. is controlled by one or few major genes that are not complementary

Summary Previous investigations into the inheritance of resistance to accumulation of potato leafroll virus indicated a dominant major-gene effect, but the segregation ratios in progenies of crosses were a closer fit to a model involving two complementary genes (both required for resistance and one present in the susceptible parent cultivar, Maris Piper) than to a single gene model. In this study, we tested the complementary gene hypothesis by backcrossing susceptible segregants from one of these progenies to their susceptible parent, Maris Piper. No resistant segregants were found in the five backcross progenies examined, so the complementary gene hypothesis was not supported. There was significant variation between susceptible progeny-members in these backcrosses. The progeny of another, highly resistant parent clone, G. 8107(1), selfed, was also examined: all members were resistant. Whilst there is evidently a dominant major-gene effect involved, this is not the whole picture and there are other unidentified genetic effects.     

Molecular evidence for the occurrence of beet western yellows virus on chickpea in Morocco

A luteovirus isolate infecting chickpea in Morocco was experimentally transmitted by Myzus persicae to Physalis floridana, on which it produced mild symptoms. When tested in western blots against antisera to known legume luteoviruses, this isolate reacted strongly to beet western yellows virus (BWYV) antiserum, moderately to bean leafroll virus antiserum, while no reaction was recorded with the antiserum against subterranean clover red leaf virus. In PCR, a fragment of ca. 950 bp was amplified, comprising the 3' end of the open reading frame (ORF) 3, the complete coat protein gene (ORF 4), and the non-translated region in between these ORFs. The nucleotide sequence of the amplified fragment showed high similarity with BWYV (approximately 96%), and lower (50–60%) with other luteoviruses reported to infect legumes. On the basis of these data, the Moroccan isolate was identified as BWYV. This is the first molecular evidence for the occurrence of BWYV on chickpea in Morocco, and on food legumes in general in North Africa.     

Two complementary recessive genes conferring resistance to Cucurbit Aphid Borne Yellows Luteovirus in an Indian melon line (cucumis melo L.)

The genetic control of resistance to cucurbit aphid-borne yellows luteovirus (CABYV) in Cucumis melo L. was studied in three progenies obtained from the cross between a resistant Indian line, PI 124112, and a susceptible cultivar of Charentais type, Védrantais. An F2 progeny and recombinant inbred lines were screened respectively in 1993 and 1995 under natural infection conditions in open field at Montfavet, France whereas the back cross (PI 124112 × F1) was inoculated by viruliferous Myzus persicae in controlled conditions. ELISA was used for assessing degree of virus multiplication in the plants resistance. In the three trials performed, segregation analysis were consistent with the hypothesis that the resistance to CABYV in PI 124112 is conferred by two independent complementary recessive genes, for which the symbols cab-1 and cab-2T are proposed. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

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.     

The incubation period of beet yellowing viruses in sugar-beet under field conditions

In three years field trials, the incubation period, i.e. the time between infection and the appearance of symptoms, of beet yellows virus (BYV) and beet mild yellowing virus (BMYV) increased with later infection during the growing season. The incubation period of BYV, a closterovirus, increased from 3 weeks in young plants infected before canopy closure, to 9 weeks in old plants infected in August. The incubation period of BMYV, a luteovirus, increased from 4 to 5 weeks in young plants to 9 weeks in old plants. Symptoms were observed c. one week earlier on the inoculated leaves than on those infected systemically, except on young BYV-infected plants. On these plants, symptoms developed in 3 weeks on both leaf types.The incubation period decreased at increasing temperature, a fixed temperature sum being required for the development of symptoms on plants of a certain age. This temperature sum increased with plant age. Symptom development was related to leaf growth; the systemic symptoms appeared after the infected leaves attained their final size. Young, expanding leaves did not show symptoms. Thus the development of symptoms seems to be related to physiological conditions occurring only in full-grown leaves. A low rate of leaf expansion may constitute the underlying reason for the long incubation period of virus symptoms in old plants and at low temperatures.The incubation period was not substantially affected by: (1) the number ofMyzus persicae used to inoculate the plants, (2) the number of leaves inoculated, (3) the development stage of the inoculated leaf and (4) the source plant of BMYV, beet or shepherd's-purse,Capsella bursapastoris. The incubation period can be used to obtain rough estimates of the infection-date of individual plants, given the date on which symptoms appear.Samenvatting De incubatieperiode van het bietevergelingsvirus, BYV, en het zwakke-bietevergelings-virus, BMYV, nam toe naarmate suikerbieteplanten later in het seizoen geïnfecteerd werden. Jonge planten ontwikkelden BYV-symptomen na ongeveer 3 weken terwijl na gewassluiting de incubatieperiode geleidelijk toenam tot 9 weken. De incubatieperiode van BMYV nam toe van 4 à 5 weken na inoculatie in juni tot 9 weken na inoculatie in augustus. Geïnoculeerde bladeren ontwikkelden ongeveer een week eerder symptomen dan de systemisch geïnfecteerde bladeren, behalve bij jonge planten, geïnfecteerd met BYV, waar de symptomen zich op beide typen bladeren tegelijkertijd ontwikkelden.De incubatieperiode nam bij hogere temperatuur af en, afhankelijk van de leeftijd van de plant (aantal bladeren) was een bepaalde temperatuursom nodig voor de ontwikkeling van symptomen. Deze temperatuursom nam toe met de ouderdom van de plant. Van alle systemisch besmette bladeren, vertoonden de oudste, welke juist verschenen op het moment dat de plant werd geïnfecteerd, als eerste symptomen. Dit gebeurde zodra of kort nadat ze hun uiteindelijke grootte hadden bereikt. Groeiende bladeren vertoonden nooit vergelingssymptomen. De trage bladexpansie in oude planten en bij lage temperaturen is een mogelijke oorzaak van de lange incubatieperiode aan het einde van het seizoen.De incubatieperiode werd niet duidelijk beïnvloed door inoculatieomstandigheden, zoals (1) het aantal groene perzikluizen,Myzus persicae, dat werd gebruikt voor inoculatie, (2) het aantal geïnoculeerde bladeren, (3) de ouderdom van het geïnoculeerde blad, (4) de bronplant van BMYV, biet of herderstasje, of (5) de vector species. Omdat de incubatieperiode niet in belangrijke mate afhankelijk is van deze factoren kan bij kennis van de datum waarop symptomen verschenen de infectiedatum worden bepaald op basis van de incubatieperiode.     

A major quantitative trait locus for resistance to Turnip Yellows Virus (TuYV, syn. beet western yellows virus, BWYV) in rapeseed

Turnip yellows virus (TuYV) is responsible for a recognizable loss of yield in European winter oilseed rape cultivation. To map genes involved in TuYV resistance, a double haploid population was established by crossing a resynthesized rapeseed line (R54) as donor for TuYV resistance with an elite rapeseed line (‘Express’). Resistance was determined with 10 plants per line by double antibody sandwich‐enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay. After screening 17 primer combinations (Pstl/Msel and EcoRI/Msel), 143 amplified fragment length polymorphism markers were mapped to 20 linkage groups representing 15 chromosomes of the rapeseed genome. Quantitative trait loci (QTL) were mapped using the composite interval mapping approach. As a result, one major quantitative trait locus was found on linkage group MS17, explaining up to 50% of the phenotypic variation. Because no other factors displaying a significant effect on the expression of resistance could be identified, a simple mode of inheritance for TuYV resistance is suggested, thus enabling marker‐assisted selection during rapeseed breeding.     

Variation in transmission of two BYDV-MAV isolates by multiple clones of Rhopalosiphum padi L.

Vector efficiency of up to 17 Rhopalosiphum padi L. clones originating from Europe, North America and North Africa, was evaluated by transmitting two isolates of the serotype MAV for which this species is normally an inefficient vector. When test plants were inoculated by batches of 3 aphids, both isolates were rather well transmitted by one clone (Rp5), isolate MAV2 was poorly transmitted by all other clones tested and isolate MAV11 was not transmitted by eight clones and poorly transmitted by two clones. When eight aphids were used by test plants, all clones transmitted both isolates. The epidemiological consequences of MAV transmission by some R. padi clones are discussed, as well as the interest of these clones for studying aphid-derived components of luteovirus transmission.