Use of polymerase chain reaction (PCR) to study transmission of banana bunchy top virus by the banana aphid (Pentalonia nigronervosa)

Banana bunchy top virus (BBTV) is a ssDNA virus transmitted by the banana aphid, ( Pentalonia nigronervosa ). A polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay was used to study BBTV transmission efficiency, to determine the minimum acquisition-access period, the minimum inoculation-access period, the retention time, and to examine the possibility of transovarial transmission in this vector. BBTV was acquired by banana aphids within 4 h and was transmitted within 15 min feeding. On average, more than 65% of single viruliferous adult aphids transmitted BBTV. The aphids retained BBTV for their adulthood of 15–20 days. None of the 131 offspring from adult aphids reared on infected bananas were BBTV positive. Aphid transmission experiments were conducted to determine if taro and gingers are hosts of BBTV. None of the 87 taro and ginger plants exposed to aphid inoculation were infected by BBTV. The BBTV-free status of these plants was verified by PCR assay for 6 months post-inoculation. In addition, none of the taro and ginger samples collected from fields adjacent to BBTV-infected banana plants tested positive for BBTV.     

香蕉束顶病毒研究新进展

介绍香蕉束顶病毒从发现到诊断和检测,从分子生物学研究到抗病毒基因工程,探究香蕉束顶病毒100多年的研究历程,为香蕉束顶病毒的深入研究和有效防治奠定了坚实的基础。     

香蕉束顶病毒DNA组分2、3的启动子区的组织特异性分析

香蕉束顶病毒（BBTV）基因组至少由6个大小约为1.0-1.1kb的单链环状DNA组分所组成,每一个DNA组分包含编码区与非编码区。本文在前人的研究基础上进一步了解BBTV DNA组分启动子的功能。首先根据BBTV 海南分离物的全序列,通过常规PCR扩增出长为540bp的 BBTV DNA3组分启动子序列BV3.1,同时通过重叠PCR扩增出646bp的DNA2与DNA3组分非编码区拼接的重组启动子序列BV23,分别替代pBI121 35S启动子序列与gus基因进行融合,构建植物表达载体pBIBV3.1、pBIBV23。农杆菌介导转化获得的pBIBV3.1转基因烟草经GUS化学组织染色后,在其叶片的叶脉处检测到微弱的GUS活性,证实了DNA3组分的韧皮部特异表达活性;而pBIBV23转基因烟草,其叶片经GUS组织化学染色后,在叶肉、叶缘及一些叶脉上检测到弱GUS活性,这表明由BV23驱动的gus基因在烟草中类似于组成型表达,则DNA2组分转录方式可能有异于DNA3组分。     

A PCR-based method, with internal control, for the detection of Banana bunchy top virus in banana

Banana bunchy top disease is a major constraint to banana production in most regions where this crop is grown. The disease is caused by Banana bunchy top virus (BBTV), a multicomponent, single-stranded DNA virus of the family Nanoviridae. We have designed primers to a conserved region of the master replication-associated protein that are useful for the polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-mediated detection of BBTV. In addition, primers to banana genomic sequence are used as an internal control, overcoming the uncertainty (owing to false-negatives) inherent in PCR diagnostics. Together these primer sets are a valuable tool in the effort to control BBTV, particularly in screening micropropagated banana plantlets for the absence of virus before release to farmers.     

The transmission of banana bunchy-top virus in micropropagated bananas

Plants were established in vitro from banana bunchy0top virus (BBTV) infeeted plants. Explants containing either vegetative shoot apices or terminal floral apices were used to initiate cultures. Plants multiplied in culture were indistinguishable from non-infected (control) plants and lacked characteristic symptoms of BBTV infection. After 16 months in culture plants were established in the glasshouse and after 1 month in pots some plants started to show symptoms of the disease. After a further 5 months, 73% of the plants showed characteristic symptoms of the disease while 27% were symptomless and similar in appearance to control plants. These plants have been grown to maturity in the field without showing recognizable symptoms. This study demonstrates that BBTV can be transmitted in an apparently symptomless condition in culture and has important consequences for the dissemination of banana germplasm within Australia and internationally.     

Effect of banana bunchy top virus infection on morphology and growth characteristics of banana

Field experiments were conducted in Oahu, Hawaii, to investigate the effects of banana bunchy top virus (BBTV) infection on growth and morphology of banana ( Musa acuminata ). The time interval between aphid inoculation of BBTV and the initial appearance of disease symptoms (i.e. incubation period) was also determined. Plants infected with BBTV showed a significant reduction in petiole size (i.e. length and distance), plant canopy and height, leaf area, pseudostem diameter and chlorophyll content compared with control plants. Growth differences between virus-infected and control plants were not observed until 40–50 days after the plants were inoculated with viruliferous aphids. Other growth parameters such as petiole width and leaf production were not statistically different between infected and control plants. The incubation period of banana bunchy top disease or appearance of symptoms ranged from 25 to 85 days after aphid inoculation. However, PCR assays provided earlier detection of BBTV in banana plants compared with visual symptoms.     

Differential expression of pathogenesis-related proteins and defense enzymes in banana: interaction between endophytic bacteria,Banana bunchy top virus and Pentalonia nigronervosa

Banana bunchy top disease caused by Banana bunchy top virus is the most serious viral disease of banana and plantain worldwide. The virus is transmitted by the aphid vector Pentalonia nigronervosa in a persistent manner. This paper deals with the effect of the interaction between plant growth promoting endophytic bacteria, Banana bunchy top virus, and the banana aphid Pentalonia nigronervosa in the expression of Pathogenesis-related proteins (PR-proteins) and defense enzymes in banana. The existence of virus in the aphids was confirmed by ELISA, DIBA and PCR. PCR could amplify 1100-bp replicase gene of BBTV from viruliferous aphids. A significant increase in the enzymatic activity of all measured PR proteins and defense enzymes, as compared to control plants, was seen in the plants inoculated with endophytic bacteria and challenged with viruliferous aphids. Native gel electrophoresis revealed expression of more isoforms of PR proteins viz., peroxidase and chitinase in the banana plants challenged with mixtures of plant growth promoting endophytic bacteria and viruliferous aphids. Enhanced activity of a PR-2 protein viz., β-1,3-glucanase was also noticed in the viruliferous aphids infested plants. Some of the defense-related enzymes viz., Polyphenol oxidase and Phenylalanine ammonia lyase and phenolic compounds were also upregulated, up to 5 days after aphid infestation and thereafter there was a reduction in the enzymatic activity. Thus, there exist a differential accumulation of PR proteins and defense-related enzymes, when there is tri-tropic interaction between endophytic bacteria, virus, and insect and the role of the endophytic bacteria in the defense mechanisms against insect pests needs to be elucidated.     

Biological and Molecular Categorization of Strains of Banana bunchy top virus

Banana bunchy top virus (BBTV), a complex circular single‐stranded DNA virus with multiple genomic components, is a destructive pathogen in banana‐cultivating areas worldwide. Based on symptoms (such as vein clearing, green streak on pseudostem, leaf atrophy, bunchy top and stunting) as well as polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification patterns with different primer pairs, all BBTV isolates collected from Taiwan and other countries can be divided into five distinctive strains. Three primer pairs, C1, stem‐loop common region (CR‐SL) and TS were used for PCR amplifications. Strain 1, which induces conspicuous symptoms, is a common severe strain; it reacted positively with C1 and CR‐SL but negatively with TS in the PCR assays, so its PCR pattern was indicated as ‘+/+/?’ for C1, CR‐SL and TS primer pairs, respectively. Strain 2 seemed to be a Taiwan‐specific severe strain which induced severe symptoms, and its PCR pattern was ‘+/+/+’ as it showed positive reactions with all three primer pairs. Strain 3, causing the most severe symptoms, is a Malaysia‐specific severe strain whose PCR pattern is ‘?/+/?’. Strain 4 induced moderately severe symptoms and is an intermediate strain whose PCR pattern is ‘?/+/?’. Strain 5 is a mild strain; it did not induce symptoms in banana and it reacted positively with C1, CR‐SL and TS primer pairs. Interestingly, an additional 537‐bp fragment was amplified from Strain 5 with the CR‐SL primer pair. The PCR pattern of Strain 5 is therefore indicated as ‘+/++/+’. This study demonstrates that various BBTV strains exist in nature and they differ biologically and also molecularly.     

Predicting the benefits of banana bunchy top virus exclusion from commercial plantations in australia

Benefit cost analysis is a tried and tested analytical framework that can clearly communicate likely net changes in producer welfare from investment decisions to diverse stakeholder audiences. However, in a plant biosecurity context, it is often difficult to predict policy benefits over time due to complex biophysical interactions between invasive species, their hosts, and the environment. In this paper, we demonstrate how a break-even style benefit cost analysis remains highly relevant to biosecurity decision-makers using the example of banana bunchy top virus, a plant pathogen targeted for eradication from banana growing regions of Australia. We develop an analytical approach using a stratified diffusion spread model to simulate the likely benefits of exclusion of this virus from commercial banana plantations over time relative to a nil management scenario in which no surveillance or containment activities take place. Using Monte Carlo simulation to generate a range of possible future incursion scenarios, we predict the exclusion benefits of the disease will avoid Aus$15.9-27.0 million in annual losses for the banana industry. For these exclusion benefits to be reduced to zero would require a bunchy top re-establishment event in commercial banana plantations three years in every four. Sensitivity analysis indicates that exclusion benefits can be greatly enhanced through improvements in disease surveillance and incursion response.     

Potential implications of biopriming in banana (Musa spp) plantlets against banana bunchy top virus (BBTV)

Abstract

Transplant media as a means for the introduction of biological agents is currently being investigated in a variety of crops. This study aimed to investigate the impact of microbial inoculation in micropropagated banana plantlets to enhance their resistance against Banana bunchy top virus (BBTV). Virus indexed micropropagated plantlets of banana were subjected to root colonization followed by foliar spraying with bacterial strains Pseudomonas fluorescens Pf1, CHA0 and Bacillus subtilis EPB22 during primary and secondary hardening stage in the nursery, at the time of repotting and 3 months after planting in the pot. Microbe inoculated plantlets showed enhanced PR proteins and defense enzymes besides reducing banana bunchy top disease incidence under glasshouse condition. The results indicated the effective use of beneficial microbes in reducing the disease incidence of BBTV in tissue culture banana plantlets. In addition, the molecular characterization of endophytes isolated from banana plantlets, using SDS-PAGE and RAPD-PCR revealed that endophytes were categorized into two distinct groups. These results emphasize the significance of microorganisms in protection of young plantlets from transplanting stresses in field. Further, the use of beneficial microorganisms instead of chemicals sustains an ecological niche in the agricultural ecosystem.     

Intron-mediated enhancement of the banana bunchy top virus DNA-6 promoter in banana (Musa spp.) embryogenic cells and plants

 Intron-containing fragments derived from the 5′ untranslated regions of the maize ubi1, maize adh1, rice act1 and sugarcane rbcS genes were tested for their enhancing effects on the banana bunchy top virus DNA-6 promoter (BT6.1) in banana (Musa spp. cv. Bluggoe) embryogenic cells. The rice act1 and maize ubi1 introns provided the highest levels of intron-mediated enhancement of GUS expression, increasing native BT6.1 promoter activity by about 300-fold and 100-fold, respectively. The sugarcane rbcS intron increased expression about tenfold, whereas the adh1 intron had no significant effect. In regenerated transgenic banana plants, the ubi1 intron significantly enhanced BT6.1 promoter activity to levels similar to that of the CaMV 35 S promoter and did not appear to affect the tissue specificity of the promoter. Received: 28 July 2000 / Revision received: 21 August 2000 / Accepted: 4 October 2000     

A PCR-based method, with internal control, for the detection of Banana bunchy top virus in banana

Banana bunchy top disease is a major constraint to banana production in most regions where this crop is grown. The disease is caused by Banana bunchy top virus (BBTV), a multicomponent, single-stranded DNA virus of the family Nanoviridae. We have designed primers to a conserved region of the master replication-associated protein that are useful for the polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-mediated detection of BBTV. In addition, primers to banana genomic sequence are used as an internal control, overcoming the uncertainty (owing to false-negatives) inherent in PCR diagnostics. Together these primer sets are a valuable tool in the effort to control BBTV, particularly in screening micropropagated banana plantlets for the absence of virus before release to farmers.     

Thermocycling steps and optimization of multiplex PCR

Multiplex PCR (M-PCR), a method that detects more than two target loci in a single reaction, relies on the variables which influence single template specific PCR. We describe here the role of temperature cycles in ensuring the efficiency of detection. We have designed a multi-step protocol, which uses gradients between the temperature steps. This has facilitated the target specific annealing in the developed M-PCR. We have examined various thermocycling steps and optimized the M-PCR protocol using 10⁵ to 10¹ cells of Escherichia coli, Salmonella typhi, and Vibrio cholera as template in a single reaction. The sensitivity of the detection observed was 10² cells of each pathogen used in the study.     

Screening of transgenic plants by multiplex PCR

A protocol is described, for the rapid screening of a large number of putative transgenic shoots. Genomic DNA is isolated and screened by PCR. To validate the purity of the DNA, PCR amplification is done with primers homologous to an endogenous gene. Multiplex PCR is used to screen for the transgenic shoots with two sets of primers, one set against the endogenous gene (internal control) and the other set against the gene used in transformation. This protocol has been successfully used on maize, melon, oil-seed rape, pepper, petunia, potato, squash, sugar beet and tobacco.     

Use of Rep‐PCR for Genetic Diversity Analyses in Fusarium culmorum

Fusarium culmorum is a pathogen of economically important grain crops. In this work, Rep‐PCR was used to identify genetic diversity in F. culmorum isolates which have been collected from wheat fields in Turkey. Reproducible genomic fingerprints were amplified in each strain by PCRs of prokaryotic repetitive extragenic palindromic (REP), enterobacterial repetitive intergenic consensus (ERIC) and BOX sequences. Totally 104 molecular markers were evaluated and similarity comparisons were shown as a dendrogram. The average genetic diversity was 52.3% ranging from 15.8% to 88.7% according to the Rep‐PCR data. Cluster analysis showed agreement with the distance of sampling locations. The highest genetic similarity (84.2%) was determined between two F. culmorum isolates (F1 and F2) originated from the same agro‐ecological region. Our results showed that Rep‐PCR is convenient and rapid for genetic diversity analyses and strain differentiation in F. culmorum.     

感染BBTV香蕉叶片cDNA文库的构建及评价

为了研究香蕉束顶病毒与香蕉寄主致病的互作分子机制,本文报道利用Make Your Own“Mate＆Plate^TM”Library System试剂盒成功构建感染BBTV香蕉叶片的cDNA文库。通过改良CTAB法提取感染BBTV香蕉叶片的总RNA,采用SMART法反转录合成双链cDNA,经SfiI酶切并去除短片段之后,与经同样酶切的pGADT7-SfiI载体连接,利用电转法将重组载体转化到大肠杆菌宿主细胞中,获得初级cDNA文库,最后以初级文库100万克隆为基数扩增,得到扩增文库并提取质粒。结果得到库容量大于2.0×10⁶的初级文库,检测表明文库cDNA插入片段长度主要分布在700~2 000 bp,文库重组率为87.5％。结果表明,该文库质量较好,可用于后续酵母双杂交互作蛋白筛选试验,本研究为开展病毒与寄主互作的研究奠定基础。     

Induction of defense-related proteins by mixtures of plant growth promoting endophytic bacteria against Banana bunchy top virus

Rhizosphere and endophytic bacterial isolates from the roots and corms of banana were tested for their biocontrol efficiency against Banana bunchy top virus (BBTV). Molecular characterization using RAPD and microsatellite markers revealed genomic variability in the endophytic Pseudomonas and Bacillus isolates. Bio-formulations of mixtures of the rhizobacterial isolate Pseudomonas fluorescens (Pf1) and endophytic Bacillus spp. (EPB22) were effective in reducing the incidence of BBTV under green-house (80%) and field conditions (52%). Reduction in virus titer (0.64) was noticed in the plants treated with compatible mixtures of rhizobacterial and endophytic bacterial isolates as evidenced by ELISA, in comparison to control plants (1.69). In addition to disease control, a significant increase in the yield (53.33%) was noticed in the bacterized plants when compared to the control plants. Pathogenesis-related (PR) proteins, chitinase and β-1,3-glucanase and defense-related proteins, peroxidase, polyphenol oxidase, phenylalanine ammonia-lyase and phenolic compounds were significantly activated in the bacterized plants, thus inducing resistance against bunchy top virus. Populations of endophytic bacteria also remained high and stable throughout the growing period. Thus, application of mixtures of rhizosphere and endophytic bacteria increases yield and has a potential role in inducing resistance against Banana bunchy top virus.     

A multiplex PCR approach to simultaneously genotype potato towards the resistance alleles Ry-f sto and Ns

A simple and robust multiplex PCR approach was developed for detection of the alleles Ry-f _sto and Ns conferring resistance of potato to Potato Virus Y (PVY) and Potato Virus S (PVS), respectively. Cleaved amplified polymorphic sequence (CAPS) markers GP122₅₆₄ linked to Ry-f _sto and SC811₂₆₀ linked to Ns were amplified in one PCR reaction and identified after simultaneous digestion of the amplicons with restriction enzymes EcoRV and MboI. Effectiveness of this procedure for marker-assisted selection was confirmed in 55 potato cultivars.