Molecular characterization and detection of European isolates of Soil-borne wheat mosaic virus

Sequencing of a recently identified isolate of Soil-borne wheat mosaic virus (SBWMV) from the UK confirmed its identity as a European strain of the species and provided further evidence for taxonomic divisions in the group. Two RT–PCR protocols were developed for the detection of all SBWMV strains and for the specific detection of the European SBWMV strain, and were tested successfully on 21 isolates of SBWMV from a range of countries. Both protocols worked well using either purified total RNA in one- or two-step RT-PCR, or immunocapture (IC) RT–PCR. The sensitivity of IC RT-PCR was 100 times greater than ELISA. Neither set of primers produced any PCR product with either Wheat spindle streak mosaic virus or Wheat yellow mosaic virus which are frequently associated with SBWMV, or with the related viruses Indian peanut clump virus , Potato mop-top virus , Beet soil-borne virus and Beet necrotic yellow vein virus . This new diagnostic protocol will improve disease management by enabling correct identification of the causal pathogen and earlier detection than is possible serologically.