Resistance to sweet potato virus disease (SPVD) in wild East African Ipomoea

Sweet potato virus disease (SPVD), the most harmful disease of sweet potatoes in East Africa, is caused by mixed infection with sweet potato feathery mottle potyvirus (SPFMV) and sweet potato chlorotic stunt crinivirus (SPCSV). Wild Ipomoea spp. native to East Africa (J cairica, I. hildebrandtii, I. involucra and J wightii) were graft-inoculated with SPVD-affected sweet potato scions. Inoculated plants were monitored for symptom development and tested for SPFMV and SPCSV by grafting to the indicator plant J setosa, and by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Virus-free scions of sweet potato cv. Jersey were grafted onto these wild Ipomoea spp. in the field, and scions collected 3 wk later were rooted in the greenhouse and tested for viruses using serological tests and bioassays. In all virus tests, J cairica and J involucra were not infected with either SPFMV or SPCSV. J wightii was infected with SPFMV, but not SPCSV, in the field and following experimental inoculation; J hildebrandtii was infected with SPCSV, but not SPFMV, following experimental inoculation. These data provide the first evidence of East African wild Ipomoea germplasm resistant to the viruses causing SPVD.     

The incidence of sweet potato virus disease and virus resistance of sweet potato grown in Uganda

Sweet potato virus disease (SPVD) was common (25–30% average incidences), and farmers recognised it as an important disease, in sweet potato crops in southern Mpigi, Masaka and Rakai Districts in Uganda, but SPVD was rare in Soroti and Tororo Districts. Whiteflies, which are the vector of sweet potato chlorotic stunt crinivirus (SPCSV) a component cause of SPVD, were correspondingly common on sweet potato crops in Mpigi and rare on crops in Tororo. However, aphids, which are the vectors of sweet potato feathery mottle potyvirus (SPFMV), the other component cause of SPVD, were not found colonising sweet potato crops, and itinerant alate aphids may be the means of transmission. Different sweet potato cultivars were predominant in the different districts surveyed and four local cultivars obtained from Kanoni in S. Mpigi, where whiteflies and SPVD were common, were more resistant to SPVD than four cultivars from Busia in Tororo District, where whiteflies and SPVD were rare. However, nationally released cultivars were even more resistant than the local cultivars from Kanoni. Yield results and interviews with farmers indicated that farmers in S. Mpigi were making compromises in their choice of cultivars to grow, some key factors being SPVD susceptibility, and the yield, taste, and marketability, duration of harvest and in-ground storability of the storage roots. These compromises need to be included in an assessment of yield losses attributable to SPVD.     

Synergistic interactions of begomoviruses with Sweet potato chlorotic stunt virus (genus Crinivirus) in sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas L.)

Three hundred and ninety‐four sweet potato accessions from Latin America and East Africa were screened by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for the presence of begomoviruses, and 46 were found to be positive. All were symptomless in sweet potato and generated leaf curling and/or chlorosis in Ipomoea setosa. The five most divergent isolates, based on complete genome sequences, were used to study interactions with Sweet potato chlorotic stunt virus (SPCSV), known to cause synergistic diseases with other viruses. Co‐infections led to increased titres of begomoviruses and decreased titres of SPCSV in all cases, although the extent of the changes varied notably between begomovirus isolates. Symptoms of leaf curling only developed temporarily in combination with isolate StV1 and coincided with the presence of the highest begomovirus concentrations in the plant. Small interfering RNA (siRNA) sequence analysis revealed that co‐infection of SPCSV with isolate StV1 led to relatively increased siRNA targeting of the central part of the SPCSV genome and a reduction in targeting of the genomic ends, but no changes to the targeting of StV1 relative to single infection of either virus. These changes were not observed in the interaction between SPCSV and the RNA virus Sweet potato feathery mottle virus (genus Potyvirus), implying specific effects of begomoviruses on RNA silencing of SPCSV in dually infected plants. Infection in RNase3‐expressing transgenic plants showed that this protein was sufficient to mediate this synergistic interaction with DNA viruses, similar to RNA viruses, but exposed distinct effects on RNA silencing when RNase3 was expressed from its native virus, or constitutively from a transgene, despite a similar pathogenic outcome.     

Apparent absence of viruses in most symptomless field-grown sweet potato in Uganda

Heat tolerance of groundnut (Arachis hypogaea L.) genotypes was evaluated by solute leakage and chlorophyll fluorescence techniques in heat-hardened and non-hardened plants. To determine the appropriate hardening treatment, 1-month-old plants of two groundnut genotypes, ICGV 86707 and Chico were conditioned at five combinations of hardening (37°C) and non-hardening (30°C) air temperatures over a 5-day period. Heat injury, was assessed through measurements of electrolyte leakage after stressing leaf discs to 55°C for 15 min. The relative injury was significantly influenced by the conditioning temperatures and by the temperature during 24 h prior to measurement if those involved non-hardening conditions. Relative injury and chlorophyll fluorescence were measured after stressing leaves of six genotypes at a range of temperatures between 49°C and 55°C. Significant genotype × hardening treatment interactions were observed in relative injury and chlorophyll fluorescence. Chico was susceptible to heat stress, the relative injury test identified ICGV 86707 as tolerant, and the chlorophyll fluorescence test identified ICGV 86707 as tolerant under hardened conditions and ICGV 87358 as tolerant when non-hardened. When expressed as percentage of control values, the relative injury and chlorophyll fluorescence measurements over the 49–53°C stress temperature range were strongly correlated. Chlorophyll concentrations were increased by hardening in all genotypes except Chico. In Chico, chl_b concentration was decreased and the chl_a/b ratio increased by hardening, and chlorophyll concentrations were correlated with chlorophyll fluorescence parameters. Chlorophyll concentration may therefore provide an alternative means of screening for heat tolerance.     

Identification and distribution of viruses infecting sweet potato in Kenya

Four hundred and forty-eight symptomatic and 638 asymptomatic samples were collected from sweet potato fields throughout Kenya and analysed serologically using antibodies to Sweet potato feathery mottle virus (SPFMV), Sweet potato chlorotic stunt virus (SPCSV), Sweet potato mild mottle virus (SPMMV), Cucumber mosaic virus (CMV), Sweet potato chlorotic fleck virus (SPCFV), Sweet potato latent virus (SwPLV), Sweet potato caulimo-like virus (SPCaLV), Sweet potato mild speckling virus (SPMSV) and C-6 virus in enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA). Only SPFMV, SPMMV, SPCSV, and SPCFV were detected. Ninety-two percent and 25% of the symptomatic and asymptomatic plants respectively tested positive for at least one of these viruses. Virus-infected plants were collected from 89% of the fields. SPFMV was the most common and the most widespread, detected in 74% of the symptomatic plants and 86% of fields surveyed. SPCSV was also very common, being detected in 38% of the symptomatic plants and in 50% of the fields surveyed. SPMMV and SPCFV were detected in only 11% and 3% of the symptomatic plant samples respectively. Eight different combinations of these four viruses were found in individual plants. The combination SPFMV and SPCSV was the most common, observed in 22% of symptomatic plants. Virus combinations were rare in the asymptomatic plants tested. Incidence of virus infection was highest (18%) in Kisii district of Nyanza province and lowest (1%) in Kilifi and Malindi districts of Coast province.     

Purification and properties of closterovirus-like particles associated with a whitefly-transmitted disease of sweet potato

A virus causing sunken veins on ‘Georgia Jet’ sweet potato, and yellow brittle leaves and stunting on Ipomoea setosa, was purified and a specific antiserum was prepared. Flexuous particles with a normal length of 850 nm and a diameter of 12 nm with an open helical structure typical of closteroviruses were observed. The virus particle protein has an apparent mol. wt of c. 34 kD. Double-stranded RNA isolated from SPSVV-infected I. setosa and subjected to electrophoresis in agarose consisted of one major band with an estimated M_r of 10.5 kbp and two minor bands with M_r of 9.0 and 5.0 kbp. Fibril-containing vesicles in phloem cells were observed in ultrathin sections of infected leaf tissues. The virus was transmitted by the whitefly Bemisia tabaci in a semi-persistent manner and by grafting, but not mechanically. The virus could be transmitted to various Ipomoea species, to Nicotiana clevelandii, N. benthamiana and Amaranthus palmeri. The virus did not react with an antiserum to lettuce infectious yellows virus. Based on particle morphology, serology and symptom expression, the virus appears unique and different from all other reported whitefly-transmitted closteroviruses. We propose it be named “sweet potato sunken vein virus” (SPSVV).     

高效价甘薯羽状斑驳病毒抗血清的制备

用嫁接方法将甘薯羽状斑驳病毒（ＳＰＦＭＶ）接种到Ｉ．ｓｅｔｏｓａ上扩繁,以０．２ｍｏｌ／ＬｐＨ７．２ＰＢＫ缓冲液、垫层差速离心、蔗糖密度梯度离心提取纯化ＳＰＦＭＶ。纯化的ＳＰＦＭＶＯＤ２６０／２８０的比值为１．２５。将纯化的ＳＰＦＭＶ免疫家兔制备抗血清,在环状沉淀和微量沉淀试验中,用提纯病毒测定抗血清的效价均为１：４０９６;以ＳＰＦＭＶ－ＩｇＧ为第一抗体,应用Ｄｏｔ－ＥＬＩＳＡ对甘薯和Ｉ．ｓｅｌｏｓａ叶片中的ＳＰＦＭＶ分别作了测定。     

甘薯羽状斑驳病毒分离提纯及血清学特性

从感染有甘薯羽状驳病毒的牵牛（I．Nil）叶片,通过超速离心,Cscl密度梯度离心提纯SPFMV粒子,每千克叶片可得病毒13－15毫克。电镜观察病毒粒子长度范围在820－860nm,也可见到900nm以上的特长粒子。病毒提纯物的紫外吸收曲线呈典型核蛋白吸收曲线,OD260／OD280＝1．21,免疫电镜检查,该病毒与SPFMV抗血清起阳性反应。     

福建甘薯病毒病病原鉴定及主要病毒多样性

【背景】病毒病是甘薯的一种重要病害,给甘薯生产带来了严重的经济损失,而生产中甘薯病毒病病原种类复杂多样。【目的】明确福建甘薯病毒病种类、分布及流行,对主要病毒进行多样性分析。【方法】从福建主要甘薯种植区采集病毒病样品,利用PCR/RT-PCR的方法对采集的样品进行病原检测,获得病毒序列,利用MEGA 6.0构建系统进化树进行遗传分析。【结果】从福建7个甘薯产区鉴定12种甘薯病毒,包括9种RNA病毒:甘薯羽状斑驳病毒(Sweet potato feathery mottle virus,SPFMV)、甘薯褪绿矮化病毒(Sweet potato chlorotic stunt virus,SPCSV)、甘薯G病毒(Sweet potato virus G,SPVG)、甘薯C病毒(Sweet potato virus C,SPVC)、甘薯2号病毒(Sweet potato virus 2)、甘薯褪绿斑病毒(Sweet potato chlorotic fleck virus,SPCFV)、甘薯潜隐病毒(Sweet potato latent virus,SPLV)、甘薯轻型斑点病毒(Sweetpotatomildspeakingvirus,SPMSV)、黄瓜花叶病毒(Cucumber mosaic virus,CMV),3种DNA病毒:甘薯卷叶病毒(Sweet potato leaf curl virus,SPLCV),甘薯无症状1号病毒(Sweet potato symptomless virus 1,SPSMV-1),甘薯杆状DNA病毒B (SPBV-B)。SPFMV、SPCSV、SPVG和SPLCV检出率最高,分别为50.28%、41.90%、35.75%和24.58%,CMV检出率最低,为2.79%,未检测到甘薯C-6病毒(SweetpotatoC-6)和甘薯轻型斑驳病毒(Sweetpotatomild mottle virus,SPMMV)。福建甘薯主要以2-6种病毒复合侵染为主,单一侵染率占14.39%,2种以上复合侵染占85.61%。福建SPFMV分离物存在EA、O和RC3种株系,SPCSV分离物存在WA1种株系,未发现EA株系,甘薯卷叶病毒分属于2个不同的株系群。【结论】福建甘薯病毒种类多样,以复合侵染为主,且存在多种株系,遗传结构复杂。     

甘薯品种营养成份与抗小象虫的相关性研究

通过田间和网室测定结果,抗小象虫较好的甘薯品种有抗虫1号、台农26、Tis2534、Ricin和鸡蛋黄;抗小象虫较弱的品种有新种花、惠红早、“329”、广薯15等。甘薯品种的营养成份与抗小象虫相关性分析结果表明,抗、感品种与粗纤维、粗脂肪含量无明显相关,与粗淀粉有显负相关,R1=-0．9935,而与粗蛋白和18种氨基酸总量有显正相关,R2=0．9741,R3=0．9621。表现粗淀粉含量高的品种,其虫害指敦较低,抗虫性强;而粗蛋白含量和18种氨基酸总量高的品种,其虫害指数较高,抗虫性则表现较弱。测定分析说明了甘薯品种营养成份与抗虫性存在一定的相关性。     

Spread of potato leafroll virus is decreased from plants of potato clones in which virus accumulation is restricted

Tubers of eight potato clones infected with potato leafroll luteovirus (PLRV) were planted as ‘infectors’ in a field crop grown, at Invergowrie, of virus-free potato cv. Maris Piper in 1989. The mean PLRV contents of the infector clones, determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) of leaf tissue, ranged from c. 65 to 2400 ng/g leaf. Myzus persicae colonised the crop shortly after shoot emergence in late May and established large populations on all plants, exceeding 2000/plant by 27 June. Aphid infestations were controlled on 30 June by insecticide sprays. Aphid-borne spread of PLRV from plants of the infector clones was assessed in August by ELISA of foliage samples from the neighbouring Maris Piper ‘receptors’. Up to 89% infection occurred in receptor plots containing infector clones with high concentrations of PLRV. Spread was least (as little as 6%) in plots containing infectors in which PLRV concentrations were low. Primary PLRV infection in guard areas of the crop away from infectors was 4%. Some receptor plants became infected where no leaf contact was established with the infectors, suggesting that some virus spread may have been initiated by aphids walking across the soil.     

Factors underpinning the responsiveness and higher levels of virus resistance realised in potato genotypes carrying virus-specific R genes

Responses to Potato virus A (PVA, genus Potyvirus) segregate to three phenotypic groups in a diploid cross between Solanum tuberosum subsp. andigena and a highly interspecific potato hybrid. The aim of this study was to compare gene expression between the progeny genotypes which react with hypersensitive response (HR) to PVA, allow PVA accumulation in inoculated leaves but restrict PVA infection to the inoculated leaf by blocking systemic movement [non-necrotic resistance (nnr)], or are susceptible (S) and systemically infected with PVA. Expression levels of ca 10 000 genes were compared using probes arranged in a microarray format, and real-time RT-PCR was applied for quantitative comparison of the expression of selected defense-related genes (DRGs). Results showed that a few DRGs were autoactivated in HR genotypes at an early stage of plant growth in the absence of PVA infection, which was not observed in the two other phenotypic groups (nnr and S). More detailed studies on the DRGs encoding a beta-1,3-glucanase, a chitinase and a basic PR-1b protein showed that autoactivation of the genes was not evident in vitro and up to 2 weeks of growth in soil in a controlled growth cabinet but was apparent 2 weeks later. Hence, autoinduction of these DRGs in the HR genotypes could be associated with growth stage, environmental factors or both. Furthermore, a number of other DRGs were induced in the inoculated leaves of HR genotypes as a response to infection with PVA, which was not observed in nnr and S genotypes. These results provide some novel information about factors underpinning the higher levels of virus resistance realised in potato genotypes carrying virus-specific R genes and suggest that part of the resistance is attributable to additional ‘minor’ genes functioning simultaneously, hence adding to the overall responsiveness and level of resistance against infection. These results also imply that some genotypes might be more responsive to chemical induction of pathogen and pest resistance, which could be considered in screening of progenies in plant-breeding programs.     

Viruses infecting sweet potato in Rwanda: occurrence and distribution

A survey of sweet potato virus diseases was conducted in the major sweet potato production areas in low, medium and high altitude zones of Rwanda. A total of 205 symptomatic and 103 asymptomatic samples were collected from 51 sweet potato fields and assayed for Sweet potato feathery mottle virus (SPFMV), Sweet potato chlorotic stunt virus (SPCSV), Sweet potato mild mottle virus (SPMMV), Sweet potato chlorotic fleck virus (SPCFV), Sweet potato latent virus (SwPLV), Sweet potato caulimo‐like virus (SPCaLV) and Cucumber mosaic virus (CMV) using nitrocellulose membrane enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay. The viruses detected in the samples were SPFMV, SPMMV, SPCSV, SPCFV and SwPLV. Viruses were detected in 83% and 31% of the symptomatic and asymptomatic samples, respectively. SPFMV was detected in 49% of the samples. SPCSV, the second most common virus, was detected in 28% of samples collected from 73% of the fields. About 19% of the samples were tested positive for SPMMV. Thirteen combinations of multiple virus infections were detected in the samples. Viruses were detected in samples from all the fields surveyed, and the frequency of detection was greatest in samples from low altitude zones.     

甘薯兼抗薯瘟病和蔓割病种质筛选鉴定

用甘薯瘟2个致病型菌株对557份甘薯品种(系)分菌系做盆苗和田间接种鉴定,并用蔓割病菌接种鉴定.结果表明,筛选出兼抗薯瘟病2个菌系的品种(系)31份,兼抗甘薯瘟和蔓割病的品种(系)有16份,其中泉薯860、泉薯854、金山93、榕选416、金山908、广薯88-70和泉薯853等7份与我省主栽抗病品种湘薯75-55(CK)相比,具有类似的双抗性能力,而其抗瘟能力更强.福薯87、林泗2号、金山57和湛93-16等4份对照品种只抗单个病害或兼抗单个菌系.     

Transfer of resistance to potato leafroll virus, potato virus Y and potato virus X from Solarium brevidens to S. tuberosum through symmetric and designed asymmetric somatic hybridisation

Resistance to potato leafroll virus (PLRV), potato virus Y (PVY^o) and potato virus X (PVX) was studied in symmetric and asymmetric somatic hybrids produced by electrofusion between Solanum brevidens (2n=2×=24) and dihaploid S. tuberosum (2n=2×=24), and also in regenerants (B-hybrids) derived through protoplast culture from a single somatic hybrid (chromosome number 48). All of the somatic hybrids between 5. brevidens and the two dihaploid lines of potato cv. Pito were extremely resistant to PLRV and PVY^oand moderately resistant to PVX, irrespective of their chromosome number and ploidy level (tetraploid or hexaploid). Most (56%) of the asymmetric hybrids of irradiated S. brevidens and the dihaploid line of potato cv. Pentland Crown (PDH40) had high titres of PVY^osimilar to those of PDH40, whereas the rest of the hybrids had PVY^otitres less than a tenth of those in PDH40. Three B-hybrids had a highly reduced chromosome number (27, 30 and 34), but were however as resistant to PLRV, PVY^oand PVX as 5. brevidens. Two asymmetric hybrids and one B-hybrid were extremely resistant to PLRV but susceptible to both PVY and PVX. The results suggested that resistance to PLRV in 5. brevidens is controlled by a gene or genes different from those controlling resistance to PVY and PVX, and the gene(s) for resistance to PVY and PVX are linked in S. brevidens.