Serological and molecular characterisations of the Egyptian isolate of Bean common mosaic virus

Bean common mosaic virus (BCMV) was isolated from the naturally infected bean plants collected from the Kafr El-Sheikh and El-Gharbia Governorates. BCMV induced sever mosaic, vein banding, malformation, leaf curling and stunting on bean plants cv. Giza 6. The isolated virus was propagated in bean plants cv. Giza 6. The identification of BCMV was carried out serologically by an indirect enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay using BCMV antiserum. Positive reaction indicated that the virus under study was related serologically to Potyvirus. The molecular biology techniques were used to identify and characterise the coat protein gene of BCMV. Oligonucleotide primers were designed for BCMV according to the published nucleotide sequences of BCMV and were successfully amplified with a DNA fragment (300 bp) from BCMV CP gene by RT-PCR. The total RNA was extracted from bean leaves and was reverse-transcribed and amplified using the oligonucleotide primer. The amplified product was analysed by gel electrophoresis. Also, Southern and dot blot hybridisations were used to establish the authenticity and specificity to the RT-PCR-amplified products of BCMV. The nucleotide sequences of the Egyptian isolate of BCMV/CP showed similarity with an isolate (BCMV-NY 15) which belongs to Puerto Rico.     

Occurrence,distribution and seasonal changes of viruses infecting common bean in northwestern Iran

Many surveys were conducted during 2003–2005 to study the identity, prevalence and fluctuation of bean infecting viruses in northwestern Iran. In total, 649 bean samples with virus- like symptoms were collected and analysed by double antibody sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (DAS-ELISA) and tissue-print immunoassay to detect infectious viruses. Serological tests revealed the presence of Bean common mosaic virus (BCMV), Bean common mosaic necrosis virus (BCMNV), Bean yellow mosaic virus (BYMV), Cucumber mosaic virus (CMV), Alfalfa mosaic virus (AMV), Bean leaf roll virus (BLRV), Bean pod mottle virus (BPMV) and Southern bean mosaic virus (SBMV), with some co-infection occurred, with prevalence of BCMV, BCMNV and BYMV (17–29% infection rate). The incidence of viruses showed variation in over 3 years of research including more than double increase in CMV from 2004 to 2005 and obvious one-third decrease in AMV from 2003 to 2005. SBMV and BPMV were detected sporadically in the fields and the response of some differential test plants was analysed by mechanical inoculation. Western immunoblotting analysis of SBMV infected bean leaf total proteins using SBMV-specific polyclonal antibody revealed viral CP with molecular mass of 28.5 kDa which confirmed the presence of SBMV as a new threat for bean production.     

A New Virulent Isolate of Clover Yellow Vein Virus on Phaseolus vulgaris in Bulgaria

Potyviruses are a common threat for snap bean production in Bulgaria. During virus surveys of bean plots in the south central region, we identified an isolate of Clover yellow vein virus (ClYVV), designated ClYVV 11B, by indirect ELISA and RT‐PCR causing severe mosaic symptoms and systemic necrosis. Indirect and direct ELISA using ClYVV antisera differentiated the ClYVV isolate from Bean yellow mosaic virus (BYMV), but serological analysis could not distinguish the Bulgarian isolate ClYVV 11B from an Italian ClYVV isolate used as a reference (ClYVV 505/7). RT‐PCR analyses with specific primers revealed that both isolates were ClYVV. Sequence analysis of an 800 bp fragment corresponding to the coat protein coding region showed 94% identity at the nucleotide level between the two isolates. Phylogenetic analyses of aligned nucleotide sequences available in the database confirmed the existence of two groups of isolates, but ClYVV 11B and ClYVV505/7 belonged to the same group. We compared the virulence of both isolates on a set of differential cultivars and 19 bean breeding lines resistant to Bean common mosaic virus (BCMV) and Bean common mosaic necrosis virus (BCMNV): Bulgarian isolate ClYVV 11B was able to infect systemically all tested bean differential cultivars and breeding lines including those with genotypes Ibc3 and Ibc2²; Italian isolate ClYVV 505/7 was not able to infect systemically some differentials with genotypes bc‐ubc1, bc‐ubc2², bc‐ubc2bc3, Ibc1², Ibc2², Ibc3. The role of bc3 gene as a source of resistance to potyviruses is discussed.     

Distribution and impact of virus associated diseases of common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) in northern Iran

Different viral diseases infect common bean crops in Iran. A total of 248 symptomatic samples were collected from common bean fields throughout main growing fields of Guilan province in Iran during the summer of 2006. Eight viruses were detected using double antibody-sandwich – enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (DAS-ELISA). Bean common mosaic virus – BCMV (1%), Bean leaf roll virus – BLRV (9%), Cowpea mild mottle virus – CpMMV (6%), Southern bean mosaic virus – SBMV (3%), Cucumber mosaic virus – CMV (15%), Bean golden mosaic virus – BGMV (2%), Bean common mosaic necrosis virus – BCMNV (1%) and Bean yellow mosaic virus – BYMV (1%) were detected. Comparatively CMV (15%) was found to be more prevalent in Guilan province. Multiple infections of viruses were recorded in many samples. Weed species belonging to Chenopodiaceae, Solanaceae, Malvaceae and Amaranthaceae families were also found to be infected with the viruses.     

Occurrence of latent virus infection in visually-rated cowpea (Vigna unguiculata L. Walp) seedlings

Abstract

The presence of latent infections was studied in five cowpeas varieties. Seeds of the varieties were planted and the seedlings inoculated with antigens from Cucumber mosaic virus (CMV) genus Cucumovirus, Bean common mosaic virus (BCMV) genus Potyvirus (Blackeye cowpea mosaic virus strain), Southern bean mosaic virus (SBMV) genus Sobemovirus and Cowpea mottle virus (CPMoV) genus Carmovirus seven days after planting. Seedlings expressing symptoms were rouged at two weeks after inoculation, while asymptomatic ones were subjected to serological indexing to detect the presence/absence of latent infection. Protein A-sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (PAS ELISA) was employed for the serological detection of CMV, SBMV and CPMoV, while antigen-coated plate (ACP) ELISA was used to detect BCMV in the asymptomatic plants. Cowpea seedlings without virus symptoms but with positive serological reactions were considered as being latently infected. All of the inoculated TVu 1272 and SuVita-2 plants showed symptoms consistent with CMV and CPMoV infections, respectively. The rate of CMV latent infection was high in TVu 1179 (14.5%), low in SuVita-2 (1.3%) but not recorded in TVu 1272.     

Strobilurins Seed Treatment Enhances Resistance of Common Bean Against Bean common mosaic virus

Commercial formulations of strobilurins (azoxystrobin, kresoxim‐methyl, trifloxystrobin and pyraclostrobin) were evaluated for their efficacy against Bean common mosaic virus (BCMV) in screenhouse and field conditions. Highest seed germination and seedling vigour were recorded with 20 μg/ml pyraclostrobin seed treatment in comparison with the control. In screenhouse studies, 76% protection against BCMV was recorded with pyraclostrobin seed treatment at 10 μg/ml. Under field conditions with natural BCMV inoculum, pyraclostrobin seed treatment resulted in 65% protection against BCMV. The protection offered by strobilurins against BCMV was evaluated by ELISA, with lowest immunoreactive values recorded in common bean seedlings raised from seeds treated with pyraclostrobin and kresoxim‐methyl. Strobilurins in addition to exerting a direct positive physiological effect on common bean plants also protect bean plants against BCMV infection in screen house and field conditions. Thus, it is proposed that these reduced‐risk pesticides are potential inducers against BCMV and growth enhancers and could be a beneficial component of integrated disease management of common bean.     

Identification and Characterization of a Potyvirus Isolated from Siratro Plants

The present work describes the identification and characterization of a potyvirus isolated from siratro (Macroptilium atropurpureum Urb.) in the north‐west region of the State of São Paulo, Brazil. The virus was transmitted by mechanical inoculation. Its host range was restricted mainly to members of the Fabaceae. A cDNA fragment of about 930 bp was amplified by RT/PCR, cloned and sequenced. The fragment, which included the coat protein gene, had amino acid identity percentages between 88 and 98% with isolates of Bean common mosaic virus (BCMV). Phylogenetic analysis grouped the siratro potyvirus and BCMV isolates in 99% of the replicates, including Azuki mosaic virus, Dendrobium mosaic virus, Blackeye cowpea mosaic virus and Peanut stripe virus, which have been classified as BCMV strains. This is the first citation on the presence of BCMV in siratro plants in Brazil.     

Far‐eastern strains of bean common mosaic virus and methods of their immunodiagnostics

The paper presents data of investigation on the physico‐chemical and antigenic properties of capsid proteins of the Bean common mosaic virus isolated from Phaseolus plants in the Russian Far East (BCMV‐R) and from China (BCMV‐C). A method for isolation of the virus preparation was selected. The purified preparations of two isolates BCMV have been obtained. The presence of one polypeptide in structural proteins of virions was established and their molecular masses determined (BCMV‐R ‐ 31,6 kD; BCMV‐C ‐ 32,1 kD). Polyclonal antiserum was obtained with titre 1:12800 and the indirect and “sandwich"‐variants of ELISA were developed to detect this virus. The allied relationships were established with the bean yellow mosaic virus and with the type representative of the genus Potyvirus ‐ PVY. Based on the data of physico‐chemical and antigenic properties it was concluded that isolates BCMV‐R and BCMV‐C are two independent strains of this virus. The presence of strain‐, virus‐ and genusspecific epitopes of capsid proteine was revealed as a result of comparison of antigenic characteristics of the Russian Far Eastern and Chinese strains of BCMV. A high antigenic activity of capsid protein of the Russian Far Eastern strain was observed.     

Immunocapture RT-PCR detection of Bean common mosaic virus and strain blackeye cowpea mosaic in common bean and black gram in India

The strains of Bean common mosaic virus (BCMV) and blackeye cowpea mosaic (BICM), genus Potyvirus, were detected from 25 common bean and 14 black gram seeds among 142 seed samples collected from different legume-growing regions of India. The samples were subjected to a growing-on test, an indicator plant test, an electron microscopic observations, an enzyme linked immunosorbent assay and an immunocapture RT-PCR. The incidence of the two tested viruses in common bean and black gram seed samples was 1–6% and 0.5–3.5%, respectively in growing-on test evaluations. Electron microscopic observations revealed filamentous virion particles from the leaves of plants showing characteristic virus disease symptoms in growing-on and host inoculation tests. The identity of the strains was confirmed by immunocapture RT-PCR, with a final amplification product of approximately 700 bp for BCMV and BCMV–BICM. The complete identity of the two viruses was further confirmed by nucleotide sequencing of the partial coat protein and 3′-UTR regions. The sequences of the four BCMV and BCMV–BICM isolates each consisted of 583–622 and 550–577 nucleotides. The present report confirms the widespread nature of these two serious potyviruses in the two most important legume crops in India.     

Patterns of accumulation of Bean common mosaic virus in Phaseolus vulgaris genotypes nearly isogenic for the I locus

The I locus of Phaseolus vulgaris is genetically and phenotypically well described, conferring incompletely dominant, temperature‐dependent resistance against viruses currently assigned to at least four Potyvirus species. Despite the fact that the resistance allele at this locus, the I gene, has been incorporated into nearly all bean germplasm worldwide, little is known regarding its resistance mechanism. In the present study, P. vulgaris lines nearly isogenic for I were challenged with Bean common mosaic virus (BCMV; genus Potyvirus) in order to investigate at the cellular level the temperature‐dependent resistance reaction. Immunolocalisation and confocal laser scanning microscopy were employed to visualise the virus and to identify patterns of BCMV accumulation in resistant, susceptible and heterozygous genotypes. Virus was detected in all three genotypes regardless of temperature, supporting previous findings that BCMV accumulates in protoplasts containing the I allele. Genotype‐specific and temperature‐specific patterns of virus accumulation suggested a resistance mechanism that depends on host recognition of viral replication and/or local movement.     

Incidence and severity of bean common mosaic disease and resistance of popular bean cultivars to the disease in western Kenya

The common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris) is a high protein crop and the main legume in the cropping system of western Kenya. Despite its importance, common bean yields are low (<1.0 t/ha) and declining. Bean common mosaic virus (BCMV) and bean common mosaic necrosis virus (BCMNV) are the most common and most destructive viruses and can cause a yield loss as high as 100%. In Kenya, a limited number of cultivars and exotic genotypes with resistance to BCMV and BCMNV strains have been reported. This study sought to determine the distribution and screen popular cultivars for resistance to the viruses. In October 2016 and May 2017, two diagnostic surveys for bean common mosaic disease (BCMD) were conducted in seven counties of western Kenya namely Bungoma, Busia, Homa Bay, Nandi, Vihiga, Kakamega and Siaya. Leaf samples showing virus-like symptoms were collected and analysed by ELISA. Sixteen popularly grown bean cultivars together with cowpea (Vigna unguiculata), soybean (Glycine max), green grams (Vigna radiata) and groundnut (Arachis hypogaea) were planted in a greenhouse in a completely randomized block design with three replicates. The plants were inoculated with BCMNV isolate at 3-leaf stage. Data were taken weekly for 3 weeks on type of symptoms expressed and number of plants infected. In total, 270 bean farms were visited. Symptoms of mosaic, downward curling, local lesions, stunting or a combination of these were observed during both surveys. Mean virus incidence was higher in the short rain season (50.2%) than in the long rain season (35.6%). The mean BCMD severity on a scale of 0–3 was highest (2.3) in Kakamega County and lowest (0.5) in Siaya. On variety resistance tests to BCMNV isolate, 10 bean cultivars were susceptible, four tolerant and two resistant. BCMNV is widely distributed across counties probably because of use of uncertified seeds by farmers and inoculum pressure from seed and aphid vector. For improved yields of common bean, farmers should be advised to plant certified seeds for all legumes in the cropping system.     

Interaction of Cucumber mosaic virus and Bean yellow mosaic virus in co-infected plants of bean and broad bean

After evaluation of the responses of bean and broad bean common cultivars against an isolate of Cucumber mosaic virus (CMV-K) and Bean yellow mosaic virus (BYMV-K), interaction of isolates was statistically studied on co-infected plants of bean cv. Bountiful and broad bean cv. Lahijan at two trials. Based on viral relative concentration determined by quantitative enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, BYMV interacts synergistically with CMV in bean at 14 days post inoculation, while in co-infection with BYMV, CMV interacts antagonistically in both host plants at least in one of the two trials. This suggests that CMV/BYMV interaction is dependent on host species and developmental stage of plant. Co-infection like single infection with CMV in bean plants led to significantly decrease in plants’ height and fresh weight than BYMV singly infected and healthy plants, while viral infection of broad bean plants did not significantly affect growth parameters. Decline effect of viral infection (especially co-infection) on chlorophyll and carotenoids value of bean plants was greater than those of broad bean. Viral infection (singly or doubly) caused irregular changes in nutrient elements values of both hosts compared with healthy ones.     

Application of in silico bulked segregant analysis for rapid development of markers linked to Bean common mosaic virus resistance in common bean

Background

Common bean was one of the first crops that benefited from the development and utilization of molecular marker-assisted selection (MAS) for major disease resistance genes. Efficiency of MAS for breeding common bean is still hampered, however, due to the dominance, linkage phase, and loose linkage of previously developed markers. Here we applied in silico bulked segregant analysis (BSA) to the BeanCAP diversity panel, composed of over 500 lines and genotyped with the BARCBEAN_3 6K SNP BeadChip, to develop codominant and tightly linked markers to the I gene controlling resistance to Bean common mosaic virus (BCMV).

Results

We physically mapped the genomic region underlying the I gene. This locus, in the distal arm of chromosome Pv02, contains seven putative NBS-LRR-type disease resistance genes. Two contrasting bulks, containing BCMV host differentials and ten BeanCAP lines with known disease reaction to BCMV, were subjected to in silico BSA for targeting the I gene and flanking sequences. Two distinct haplotypes, containing a cluster of six single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP), were associated with resistance or susceptibility to BCMV. One-hundred and twenty-two lines, including 115 of the BeanCAP panel, were screened for BCMV resistance in the greenhouse, and all of the resistant or susceptible plants displayed distinct SNP haplotypes as those found in the two bulks. The resistant/susceptible haplotypes were validated in 98 recombinant inbred lines segregating for BCMV resistance. The closest SNP (~25-32 kb) to the distal NBS-LRR gene model for the I gene locus was targeted for conversion to codominant KASP (Kompetitive Allele Specific PCR) and CAPS (Cleaved Amplified Polymorphic Sequence) markers. Both marker systems accurately predicted the disease reaction to BCMV conferred by the I gene in all screened lines of this study.

Conclusions

We demonstrated the utility of the in silico BSA approach using genetically diverse germplasm, genotyped with a high-density SNP chip array, to discover SNP variation at a specific targeted genomic region. In common bean, many disease resistance genes are mapped and their physical genomic position can now be determined, thus the application of this approach will facilitate further development of codominant and tightly linked markers for use in MAS.

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/1471-2164-15-903) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.     

Incidence and diversity of viruses in cowpeas and weeds in the unmanaged farming systems of savanna zones in Nigeria

Fields surveys were conducted to assess the incidence of commonly known legume viruses on cowpeas and weed hosts within and around the cowpeas farms in nine locations across the three agro-ecological zones of Nigeria. Of 315 cowpea leaf samples collected and tested for eight viruses, 69.5% were found to be infected. Bean common mosaic virus-blackeye mosaic (BCMV-BlCM), genus Potyvirus had the highest incidence (70%) and was also the most prevalent (78%). Cowpea aphid-borne mosaic virus (CABMV, genus Potyvirus) had 64% as incidence, incidence of Southern bean mosaic virus (SBMV, genus Sobemovirus) was 21%. Bean pod mosaic virus (BPMV, genus Comovirus) was detected in 1% of the samples tested. Cowpea mosaic virus (CPMV, genus Comovirus) was undetected. Other viruses tested included Cowpea mottle virus (CPMoV, genus Carmovirus), Cucumber mosaic virus (CMV, genus Cucumovirus), and Cowpea mild mottle virus (CPMMV, genus Carlavirus). Multiple virus infections were detected in 68.0% of the infected cowpea leaf samples. The combination of BCMV-BlCM and CABMV was the most common, occurring in 76.4% of all samples. Virus incidence in weeds around the cowpea plots was 2.5% (9 out of 356) whereas 1.5% (5 out of 332) of the weeds collected within the cowpea plots were infected. Some of the weeds infected were Chromoleana odorata, Centrosema sp., Thithonia diversifolia and Talinum triangulare.     

Bean common mosaic virus and cucumber mosaic virus naturally infecting Aristolochia spp. plants in Brazil

In April 2022, Aristolochia plants with symptoms of mosaic were observed in a garden at Jardim Botânico Plantarum, Nova Odessa, São Paulo State, Brazil. Potyviridae-like particles were observed by transmission electron microscopy in leaf extracts. Total RNA extracted from symptomatic plants used in RT-PCR with universal and BCMV-specific primers detected the potyvirus bean common mosaic virus (BCMV). The cucumovirus cucumber mosaic virus (CMV) was identified only in Aristolochia littoralis plants that tested negative by RT-PCR for BCMV. Phylogenetic analysis grouped samples of Aristolochia in a different clade among samples of Phaseolus vulgaris. Phylogenetic analysis indicated that the CMV isolate from Aristolochia belongs to the CMV group IA. BCMV was mechanically transmitted to healthy plants of A. fimbriata, Chenopodium quinoa, P. vulgaris cv. Jalo and Macroptilium lathyroides. CMV was mechanically transmitted to plants of A. fimbriata and C. quinoa. The BCMV and CMV were aphid transmitted only by Aphis gossypii to Aristolochia plants. This is the first report of BCMV and CMV infecting Aristolochia plants in Brazil.     

Genetic mapping of the bean golden yellow mosaic geminivirus resistance gene bgm-1 and linkage with potyvirus resistance in common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.)

Bean golden yellow mosaic virus (BGYMV) is a whitefly-transmitted geminivirus of the Begomovirus family that causes important yield losses to common beans grown in tropical and sub-tropical countries of Latin America and the Caribbean. A major resistance gene that has been widely deployed in this region is the recessive locus bgm-1 that prevents the development of severe yellowing typical of the disease. In this study, we developed a co-dominant sequence-characterized amplified region (SCAR) marker, SR2, based on a previously identified random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) marker that is tightly linked to the bgm-1 resistance gene and identified the position of the locus in the common bean genome through comparative mapping using two genetic maps for the species. The SR2 marker was mapped relative to bgm-1 in a segregating population of recombinant inbred lines developed from the resistant × susceptible cross of DOR476 × SEL1309. Polymorphism was shown to be based on a 37 bp insertion event in the SR2 allele associated with susceptibility compared to the allele associated with resistance and the marker mapped at a distance of 7.8 cM from the resistance gene. The SR2 marker was significantly associated with overall disease symptoms and with three of the four symptoms associated with the disease (yellowing or chlorosis, flower abortion, foliar deformation) in a greenhouse trial in Colombia with the mechanically transmissible BGYMV–Guatemala strain. In both the DOR364 × G19833 and BAT93 × Jalo EEP558 mapping populations, SR2 was located near the end of linkage group b03 (chromosome 5) suggesting a sub-telomeric position. The position of the bgm-1 resistance gene was estimated to be close to that of bc-1, a strain-specific resistance gene for Bean common mosaic virus (BCMV), based on linkage of SR2 with the SCAR marker SBD5 in the DOR364 × G19833 mapping population. The implications of linkage between these two recessive resistance genes are discussed, as this is the first association between resistance genes against both a begomovirus and a potyvirus. Electronic supplementary material Supplementary material is available in the online version of this article at and is accessible for authorized users.     

Immunological detection of bean common mosaic virus in French bean (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Phaseolus vulgaris</Emphasis> L.) leaves

Bean common mosaic potyvirus (BCMV) is an important seed borne pathogen of French bean. Differential inoculation with bean common mosaic virus at cotylodonary trifoliate leaf stage and pre-flowering stage of crop growth revealed that cotyledonary leaf infection favored maximum disease expression. Under immunosorbent electron microscopy (ISEM) the virus particles of filamentous structure having a diameter of 750 nm (l) and 15 nm (w) were observed. These particles gave positive precipitin tests with polyclonal antiserum of Potato virus Y.     

Potyviral resistance derived from cultivars of Phaseolus vulgaris carrying bc-3 is associated with the homozygotic presence of a mutated eIF4E allele

Eukaryotic translation initiation factors (eIFs) play a central role in potyviral infection. Accordingly, mutations in the gene encoding eIF4E have been identified as a source of recessive resistance in several plant species. In common bean, Phaseolus vulgaris , four recessive genes, bc-1 , bc-2 , bc-3 and bc-u , have been proposed to control resistance to the potyviruses Bean common mosaic virus (BCMV) and Bean common mosaic necrosis virus . In order to identify molecular entities for these genes, we cloned and sequenced P. vulgaris homologues of genes encoding the eIF proteins eIF4E, eIF(iso)4E and nCBP. Bean genotypes reported to carry bc-3 resistance were found specifically to carry non-silent mutations at codons 53, 65, 76 and 111 in eIF4E . This set of mutations closely resembled a pattern of eIF4E mutations determining potyvirus resistance in other plant species. The segregation of BCMV resistance and eIF4E genotype was subsequently analysed in an F₂ population derived from the P. vulgaris all-susceptible genotype and a genotype carrying bc-3 . F₂ plants homozygous for the eIF4E mutant allele were found to display at least the same level of resistance to BCMV as the parental resistant genotype. At 6 weeks after inoculation, all F₂ plants found to be BCMV negative by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay were found to be homozygous for the mutant eIF4E allele. In F₃ plants homozygous for the mutated allele, virus resistance was subsequently found to be stably maintained. In conclusion, allelic eIF4E appears to be associated with a major component of potyvirus resistance present in bc-3 genotypes of bean.     

Soybean RNA interference lines silenced for eIF4E show broad potyvirus resistance

Soybean mosaic virus (SMV), a potyvirus, is the most prevalent and destructive viral pathogen in soybean-planting regions of China. Moreover, other potyviruses, including bean common mosaic virus (BCMV) and watermelon mosaic virus (WMV), also threaten soybean farming. The eukaryotic translation initiation factor 4E (eIF4E) plays a critical role in controlling resistance/susceptibility to potyviruses in plants. In the present study, much higher SMV-induced eIF4E1 expression levels were detected in a susceptible soybean cultivar when compared with a resistant cultivar, suggesting the involvement of eIF4E1 in the response to SMV by the susceptible cultivar. Yeast two-hybrid and bimolecular fluorescence complementation assays showed that soybean eIF4E1 interacted with SMV VPg in the nucleus and with SMV NIa-Pro/NIb in the cytoplasm, revealing the involvement of VPg, NIa-Pro, and NIb in SMV infection and multiplication. Furthermore, transgenic soybeans silenced for eIF4E were produced using an RNA interference approach. Through monitoring for viral symptoms and viral titers, robust and broad-spectrum resistance was confirmed against five SMV strains (SC3/7/15/18 and SMV-R), BCMV, and WMV in the transgenic plants. Our findings represent fresh insights for investigating the mechanism underlying eIF4E-mediated resistance in soybean and also suggest an effective alternative for breeding soybean with broad-spectrum viral resistance.