Common reed (Phragmites communis) is a natural host of important cereal viruses in the Trakya region of Turkey

Common reed (Phragmites communis Trin.), a perennial grass, is a widespread weed in the Trakya region of Turkey. Reed leaf samples were collected in 2004 and 2005, and tested for the presence of theMaize dwarf mosaic virus (MDMV),Sugarcane mosaic virus (SCMV),Barley yellow dwarf virus-PAV (BYDV-PAV),Cereal yellow dwarf virus-RPV (CYDV-RPV) andWheat dwarf virus (WDV) by DAS-ELISA, PTA-ELISA and Western blot analysis. MDMV was identified in five out of sixP. communis samples that exhibited characteristic virus-like symptoms in 2004. The remaining sample was co-infected with MDMV and BYDV-PAV. Transmission electron microscopy confirmed the presence of flexuous rod-shaped virus particles in four samples that reacted positively for MDMV in ELISA. In 2005, ELISA revealed that nine out of 234 samples that were collected in two different locations were infected with MDMV, nine with SCMV, and three with BYDV-PAV. No sample contained CYDV-RPV, JGMV and WDV. Our results confirm that the common reed is a host of BYDV-PAV and indicate, for the first time, that it is also a natural host of MDMV and SCMV.P. communis most likely acts as a reservoir of these three viruses in the Trakya region in Turkey. http//www.phytoparasitica.org posting Sept. 13, 2006.