Biological and Serological Variability of Zucchini Yellow Mosaic Virus in Sudan

Zucchini yellow mosaic potyvirus (ZYMV) is prevalent in different cucurbit growing agro-ecosystems in Sudan. A study of the biological and serological variability of isolates originating from different regions was conducted to better understand ZYMV epidemiology and to develop adapted and durable control strategies. Variability was detected among isolates regarding symptomatology, host range and virulence towards the Zym resistance gene in melon ( Cucumis melo L.) PI 414723. Serological variability was also revealed using a set of seven differential monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) raised against a French isolate (ZYMV-E9). Six serotypes were differentiated, but a majority of isolates (88%) reacted with all the mAbs as did the reference strains from Italy and France. All isolates from Sudan were equally well controlled by the resistance genes described in squash ( Cucurhita moschata (Duchesne) Duchesne ex Poir. cvs. Menina and Nigeria) and in cucumber ( Cucumis sativus L. cv. TMG), or by cross protection with the mild ZYMV-WK strain. All isolates were transmitted in a nonpersistent manner by Aphis gossypii Glover and Myzus persicae Sulzer.     

Strains of Zucchini Yellow Mosaic Virus in Muskmelon (Cucumis melo L.)

According to the reaction of muskmelon line PI 414723, 22 natural isolates of Zucchini Yellow Mosaic Virus (ZYMV) were grouped into two pathotypes. When inoculated by isolates belonging to pathotype 0, most of the PI 414723 plants (over 70%) remained symptomless while few plants developed systemic chloronecrotic spotting and more rarely yellowing, stunting, mosaic and leaf deformations. When contaminated by pathotype 1 all PI 414723 plants developed systemic chloronecrotic spotting. Two variants were obtained from representative strains of these two pathotypes, able to induce yellowing, stunting, mosaic and leaf deformation on all inoculated PI 414723 plants. These variants could not be differentiated from their originating strains either by host range, serology or aphid transmission properties. Therefore they are regarded as belonging to a third group called pathotype 2. No relation was observed between the type of symptom developed on PI 414723 and the ability to induce a rapid wilting reaction of melon cv. Doublon (pathotype F).     

Characterization of an Isolate of Zucchini Yellow Mosaic Virus form Cucumber in Singapore

Zucchini yellow mosaic virus (ZYMV) was first found in cucumber in Singapore in 1989. This virus was propagated in Cucurbita pepo cv. First Taste and mechanically transmitted to 12 species of six families. It induced milder symptoms than the Connecticut and Florida strains of ZYMV in infected leaves of C. pepo cv. Zucchini Elite. ZYMV-S is neither seed nor aphid transmissible. Immunoelectron microscopy revealed that ZYMV-S is distantly related to WMV-2, Moroccan WMV, and TelMV, but not, related to PRSV or ZYFV. Cytoplasmic pinwheels and scrolls were observed in ultrathin sections of infected leaf cells by light, confocal laser scanning, and transmission electron microscopy. The molecular weights of the viral coat protein and cytoplasmic inclusion protein, RNA and dsRNA were estimated to be 3.2 × 10^?1, 6.1 × 10⁴, 3.23 × 10⁶ and 6.53 × 10⁶ daltons, respectively.     

Brome Mosaic Virus Infection Mimics, Barley Yellow Dwarf Virus Disease Symptoms in Small Grains

Previous studies on the occurrence of “barley yellow dwarf virus (BYDV) disease” in South Africa have led to the conclusion that, although this virus is present, the main causative agent of “yellow dwarf” disease in cereals appears to be the unrelated brome mosaic virus (BMV). In this study, material from South Africa, Britain and Australia that had been identified symprtomatically as being infected with BYDV, was found by serological testing to contain BMV. No BYDV could be detected in the same samples. This report discusses the hazards of relying on symptom expression for the diagnosis of a common world-wide disease problem.     

A Nonviral Peptide Can Replace the Entire N Terminus of Zucchini Yellow Mosaic Potyvirus Coat Protein and Permits Viral Systemic Infection

Systematic deletion and peptide tagging of the amino-terminal domain (NT, ~43 amino acids) of an attenuated zucchini yellow mosaic potyvirus (ZYMV-AGII) coat protein (CP) were used to elucidate its role in viral systemic infection. Deletion mutants truncated by 8, 13, and 33 amino acid residues from the CP-NT 5' end were systemically infectious and produced symptoms similar to those of the AGII virus. Tagging these deletion mutants with either human c-Myc (Myc) or hexahistidine peptides maintained viral infectivity. Similarly, addition of these peptides to the intact AGII CP-NT did not affect viral life cycle. To determine which parts, if any, of the CP-NT are essential for viral systemic infection, a series of Myc-tagged mutants with 8 to 43 amino acids removed from the CP-NT were constructed. All Myc-tagged CP-NT deletion mutants, including those from which virtually all the viral CP-NT had been eliminated, were able to encapsidate and cause systemic infection. Furthermore, chimeric viruses with deletions of up to 33 amino acids from CP-NT produced symptoms indistinguishable from those caused by the parental AGII virus. In contrast to CP-NT Myc fusion, addition of the foot-and-mouth disease virus (FMDV) immunogenic epitope to AGII CP-NT did not permit systemic infection. However, fusion of the Myc peptide to the N terminus of the FMDV peptide restored the capability of the virus to spread systemically. We have demonstrated that all CP-NT fused peptides were exposed on the virion surface, masking natural CP immunogenic determinants. Our findings demonstrate that CP-NT is not essential for ZYMV spread and that it can be replaced by an appropriate foreign peptide while maintaining systemic infectivity.     

Zucchini Yellow Fleck Virus is an Emergent Virus on Melon in Sicily (Italy)

Since 2006, winter melon plants (Cucumis melo L. var inodorus) showing symptoms of pin‐point yellow spots were noticed in Sicily (Italy). Leaf samples were tested by enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay to the most important viruses‐infecting cucurbits. Zucchini yellow fleck virus (ZYFV, genus Potyvirus) was the only virus detected. Surveys in 2007 and 2008 revealed an increasing number of sites in Sicily with ZYFV‐infected winter melon plants. To confirm the identity of the virus as ZYFV, two isolates from different locations were sequenced and shown to be approximately 85% identical to the published sequences of isolates previously identified in Italy and France. This is the first report of ZYFV occurring on melon in Italy.     

Mechanical Transmission of Soil-borne Barley Yellow Mosaic Virus

Leaves of winter barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) cv. Gerbel were mechanically sap-inoculated with Barley Yellow Mosaic Virus (BaYMV). Different additives to the inoculation fluid were tested. Whereas the dilution of plant sap by water alone resulted in an infection rate of 43%, the addition of sodium sulphite (80 %) and potassium phosphate-buffer (89%) increased the proportion of infected plants substantially. Infectivity was further increased by repeated inoculation, when sodium sulphite yielded 96 % and potassium phosphate 100% of infection. The usefulness of the technique in further research and application is discussed.     

应用免疫电镜技术快速检测菜豆黄花叶病毒、马铃薯M病毒和燕麦花叶病毒

应用免疫吸附电流技术(ISEM)可有效地检测腐汁液中的菜豆黄花叶病毒(BYMV)、马铃薯M病毒(PVM)和燕麦花叶病毒(OMV)。BYMV,PVM和OMV三种抗血清的适宜工作浓度和对铜网的适宜包被时间均为1000倍和1小时,对同源病毒的适宜捕获时间分别为4℃下2、2和8小时。PVM和OMV的病汁液检测灵敏度均为稀释4000倍,而BYMV病汁液稀释16000倍时还能检测到少量病毒料子。ISEM捕获法和修饰法的结果表明,这三种病毒之间无血清学交叉反应。     

黄瓜花叶病毒侵染源的研究

试验证明黄瓜花叶病毒(CMV)可经黄瓜种子传播,传毒率为0.20％,传毒部位为种皮和种胚。经ELISA检测和枯斑反应,7种一年生和12种两年或多年生杂草感染CMV,其中刺儿菜、苦菜、还阳参、黄花蒿、伏委陵菜、鼠掌草和本氏蓼是CMV野生寄主新种,苍耳、柱腺独行菜、凤花菜、益母草和酸浆5种杂草作为CMV野生寄主,属国内首次报道。另外,4种观赏植物和2种树木也感染CMV,变该病毒的防治提供了依据。     

Serological Studies on Mung Bean Yellow Mosaic Virus

Particles of mung bean yellow mosaic virus (MYMV) were purified by a method that yields up to 3 mg per kg of systemically infected Phaseolus vulgaris“Top Crop” and used to prepare antiserum. MYMV antiserum prepared gave a single precipitin line and had a titre of 1/512 with homologous virus in gel double-diffusion tests. MYMV was shown to be serologically related to other whitefly-transmitted viruses, bean golden mosaic virus, tobacco leaf curl virus and cassava latent virus.     

Tomato Mosaic Virus Infection in a Recirculating Nutrient Solution

We studied the behaviour of tomato mosaic tobamovirus (ToMV) in a recirculating nutrient solution. Particles of tomato mosaic virus were found in the nutrient solution 3 days after leaf inoculation of plants and we demonstrated that the level could increase to a concentration readily detectable by electron microscopy. Virions remained infective in nutrient solution for at least 6 months, could infect bait plants and induced systemic symptoms within 10 days. This is the first report of measurement of infective virions in recirculating nutrient solutions. Hydroponic producers should be aware of the potential for rapid spread of virus diseases in soilless growing systems as one infected plant can serve as a source of inoculum that can ultimately result in an epidemic.