The transmission of cocksfoot mottle and phleum mottle viruses by Oulema melanopa and O. lichenis.

Oulema melanopa and O. lichenis both transmit cocksfoot mottle and phleum mottle viruses with similar efficiencies. The viruses were serologically dissimilar and did not cross-protect against each other in barley. Both viruses were acquired after a few minutes feeding, but longer acquisition feeding periods increased both the efficiency of transmission and persistence in the vectors. Acquisition of either virus increased vector mortality whilst acquisition of both together did not. When both viruses were ingested, only one was transmitted. Each virus could be recovered from haemolymph and faeces, but regurgitation was not observed and could only be induced with the greatest difficulty. The results suggest possible circulative transmission of some beetle-borne viruses.     

Some properties of cocksfoot mottle virus

Cocksfoot mottle virus (CFMV) was transmitted by manual inoculation of sap to cocksfoot (Dactylis glomerata L.), wheat, oats and barley, but not to nineteen other monocotyledonous and thirteen dicotyledonous plant species. The virus was also transmitted by cereal leaf beetles (Lema melanopa L.). Adult beetles infected plants more frequently than larvae, and remained infective for up to 2 weeks after they had fed on infected plants. Seed from infected cocksfoot and oat plants produced virus-free seedlings. The infectivity of sap was lost during 10 min. at 65° C., and 2 weeks at 20° C., but survived many months at — 15° C. Purified virus preparations, made by various methods, contained numerous nearly spherical particles, about 30 mμ in diameter. In electron micrographs some of the particles were penetrated by negative stain though most appeared intact. However, all the particles migrated together in a centrifugal (sedimentation coefficient = 118 S) or electrophoretic field. The ultraviolet absorption spectrum, and the phosphorus and nitrogen contents of the virus preparations, were typical of a nucleoprotein containing about 25 % nucleic acid. Serological tests failed to show any relationship between CFMV and eleven other viruses with particles of similar shape and size.     

Epidemiology of cocksfoot mottle virus

Cocksfoot mottle virus (CFMV) was found to be widespread in cocksfoot seed crops in the East Midlands in the third harvest year and once present in the crop spread rapidly. Pot experiments with single cocksfoot plants showed that autumn infection with CFMV resulted in a significant reduction in the number of flowering tillers and weight and size of seed produced the following year. The spread of CFMV in experimental cocksfoot leys was studied; leys cut for conservation showed more infection than leys grazed by sheep, and increasing nitrogen application resulted in higher disease incidence. The disease increased rapidly in conserved leys in 1967 and its spread was associated with cutting by a forage harvester after the virus had been introduced into the crop in the autumn, possibly by the vector Lema melanopa. Animal grazing and cutting implements seemed to be more important agencies in disease spread than the vector.     

Aphid-injection experiments with carrot mottle virus and its helper virus, carrot red leaf

Carrot mottle virus (CMotV) and its helper virus, carrot red leaf (CRLV), were not transmitted by aphids (Cavariella aegopodii) that had fed through membranes on, or had been injected with, sap from mixedly infected chervil plants or partially purified preparations of CMotV. However, the viruses were transmitted by recipient aphids injected with haemolymph from donor aphids that had fed on mixedly infected plants but not by a second series of recipients injected with haemolymph from the first series. Some of the first series of recipients transmitted both viruses for up to 11 days but others transmitted erratically and many lost ability to transmit after a few days. The results confirm that both viruses are circulative but provide no evidence for multiplication in the vector. Non-viruliferous aphids, or aphids that had acquired CRLV by feeding, did not transmit CMotV when they were injected with haemolymph from aphids that had fed on a source of CMotV alone, confirming that they can only transmit CMotV when they acquire it from a mixedly infected plant. When extracts from donor aphids were treated with ether before injection, recipient aphids transmitted both CRLV and CMotV, although the infectivity of CMotV grown in Nicotiana clevelandii in the absence of CRLV is destroyed by ether treatment. CMotV particles acquired by aphids from mixedly infected plants therefore differed in some way from those in singly infected plants. A plausible explanation of these results, and of the dependence of CMotV on CRLV for aphid transmission, is that doubly infected plants contain some particles that consist of CMotV nucleic acid coated with CRLV protein.     

Antagonism of Cucumber green mottle mosaic virus against Tomato leaf curl New Delhi virus in zucchini and cucumber

Tomato leaf curl New Delhi begomovirus (ToLCNDV) (genus Begomovirus, family Begomoviridae) and Cucumber green mottle mosaic tobamovirus (CGMMV) (genus Tobamovirus, family Virgaviridae) cause diseases in cucurbit crops and are of increasing importance in many parts of the world. Both virus species belong to different families and have different modes of transmission, but share common hosts. We examined single and mixed infections of these viruses in cucumber and zucchini. Cucumber plants single-infected with CGMMV and co-infected with ToLCNDV, produced identical tobamovirus-specific symptoms, and had reduced growth and number of fruits when compared with single ToLCNDV infections. Zucchini infected with CGMMV remained symptomless but when infected with ToLCNDV only, most developed severe begomovirus-specific symptoms, and had reduced vegetative development and less fruits. Fewer zucchini plants with ToLCNDV co-infected with CGMMV produced symptoms than those infected with ToLCNDV only. When inoculated with CGMMV, this tobamovirus accumulated at similar rates in single and mixed infections with ToLCNDV in cucumber as well as zucchini, whereas the begomovirus accumulated significantly less when co-infected with CGMMV. The results suggest the existence of an antagonistic effect of CGMMV against ToLCNDV accumulation in cucumber. Such effect would also explain similar differences in viral loads, the vegetative and reproductive development, and the reduced symptom expression in zucchini.     

Host-ranges of cocksfoot mottle and cynosurus mottle viruses

Cocksfoot mottle virus (CfMV) and cynosurus mottle virus (CyMV) had similar, but not identical, host-ranges within the Gramineae. Each infected fifteen out of forty-one species tested, considerably fewer than phleum mottle virus (PMV), but unlike PMV both infected Triticum aestivum (wheat), causing a lethal mottle. The species most useful for differentiating CfMV, CyMV and PMV are listed. Some species appear especially susceptible to virus infection.     

Relations of carrot red leaf and carrot mottle viruses with their aphid vector, Cavariella aegopodii

Studies with Scottish isolates of carrot red leaf (CRLV) and carrot mottle (CMotV) viruses confirmed the dependency of CMotV on CRLV for transmission by the aphid Cavariella aegopodii. CMotV was transmitted by aphids only when the two viruses were present in the same source plant, and its transmission was not assisted by anthriscus yellows virus, which acts as a helper for parsnip yellow fleck virus. Some test plants became infected with CRLV alone, and a few with CMotV alone. In winter, aphid transmission of CRLV and CMotV was greatly increased when the source plants received supplementary lighting whereas the CMotV infectivity of sap was not increased. C. aegopodii acquired CRLV and CMotV after minimum acquisition access times of 30 min and inoculated them after minimum inoculation access times of 2 min. There was a minimum latent period of 7–18 h. The viruses were retained by the aphid after moulting and are therefore circulative in the vector, but were not transmitted to progeny insects. Aphids allowed 24 h to acquire the viruses continued to transmit them for at least 12 days, but some aphids allowed 6 h or less for virus acquisition ceased to transmit after 3 or 4 days. CRLV is considered a tentative member of the luteovirus group.     

Preliminary studies on sap-transmissible viruses of red clover (Trifolium pratense L.) in England and Wales

Red clover plants, collected from nine widely separated permanent pastures in England and Wales, were tested for sap-transmissible viruses. Viruses were identified by the symptoms they caused in test plants, by electron microscopy, and by serological tests. Of the 265 plants tested 14% were infected. Only pea mosaic virus was common and widespread; it was found in 8% of the plants, and in seven of the fields. Other viruses isolated were arabis mosaic, bean yellow mosaic, red clover mottle, and red clover vein mosaic; only red clover mottle virus produced diagnostic symptoms in red clover. No viruses were detected in seedlings grown from seed from eighty-nine commercial seed crops. Attempts to transmit red clover mottle virus by the Collembolan Sminthurus viridis L., which is common on red clover, failed.     

Genetic control of the reactions of raspberry to black raspberry necrosis, raspberry leaf mottle and raspberry leaf spot viruses

Black raspberry necrosis virus (BRNV) induces a severe apical necrosis in black raspberry (Rubus occidentalis) but fails to induce diagnostic symptoms in red raspberry. However, BRNV infection of F₁, F₂ and F₃ hybrids from the cross black raspberry × red raspberry induced mosaic symptoms of varying intensity but no typical apical necrosis. In a survey of 28 red raspberry cultivars, a few developed severe angular chlorotic leaf spots when infected with raspberry leaf mottle virus and a few others did so when infected with raspberry leaf spot virus. These reactions were determined by single dominant genes designated Lm and Ls respectively. The value of the different host reactions for controlling the effects and spread of these viruses is discussed.     

Production and properties of monoclonal antibodies to Solanum nodiflorum mottle sobemovirus

Black raspberry necrosis virus (BRNV) reaches only very low concentrations in herbaceous plants and is difficult to maintain in culture. However, in a mixed culture with an unrelated virus, Solanum nodiflorum mottle (SNMV), in the genus Sobemovirus, the concentration of BRNV particles increases about 1000‐fold. In attempts to produce monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) to BRNV for diagnostic use, purified virus particles from the mixed virus culture were used as immunogen and the resultant antibodies screened against cultures of SNMV alone, BRNV+SNMV and healthy plant extracts. None of the virus‐specific MAbs obtained in this way was specific to BRNV but six were specific to SNMV. Although the original objective was not achieved, the SNMV MAbs were characterised and used to study serological properties of SNMV and other Sobemoviruses. Characterisation of the six SNMV MAbs showed that four were IgG3, one IgG1 and the other IgG2b. SNMV was detected by all six MAbs in ELISA, by five in Western blotting, by three in agarose gel double diffusion tests, but only one was suitable for trapping virus particles in immuno‐electron microscopy (IEM). In Western blotting using virus in sap extracts of Nicotiana clevelandii, each of the five MAbs detected a single major band of Mc. 31 000 in sap containing SNMV, and additional bands of lower mass attributed to degradation of coat protein. In various serological tests, no cross‐reactions were detected between SNMV and seven other viruses from the genus Sobemovirus. However, in IEM but not in Western blotting, significant cross‐reactions were observed between SNMV and Velvet tobacco mottle virus, another species from the genus Sobemovirus. The significance of these different findings is discussed.     

Incidence and epidemiology of Pepper veinal mottle virus (PVMV), a Potyvirus disease of pepper

There have been various reports about the devastating effect of Pepper veinal mottle virus (PVMV), a Potyvirus disease of pepper in Nigeria contributing to its low yield and reduced fruit quality leading to great economic loss. Different strains of the virus have been identified and characterised over the years and the disease incidence, severity and aphid vector distribution across agro-ecological zones studied. Different cultural management techniques have been tried and found to be effective with varying degree of success, and these included the use of organic manures, intercropping with tall companion crops, time and date of planting and the use of tolerant/resistant varieties. Integrated pest management techniques for PVMV disease have been found to be very effective.     

Broad-bean stain and true broad-bean mosaic viruses

Autumn-sown crops of broad beans (Vicia faba L.) in England often contain plants with some leaves characteristically distorted and with a chlorotic mosaic. From some of these plants true broad-bean mosaic virus was isolated in 1959 and 1960 but not in 1965 and 1966. From other plants a similar but distinct virus, which caused staining of the seeds and we call broad-bean stain virus, was isolated in 1960, 1965 and 1966. The two viruses were readily distinguished in serological tests, and in some test plants. Both were seed-borne, and spread in crops, but were not transmitted by several animal species tested as vectors. Both viruses have isometric particles about 25 mμ in diameter. Some of these particles contain about 35% ribonucleic acid, some about 26% and some of those of broad-bean stain virus contain none; these three types of particles had sedimentation coefficients of about 120–130 S, 100 S and 60 S respectively. The ribonucleic acid of each virus had molar base content of G 23%, A 26%, C 18% and U 32%. These two viruses are members of the cowpea mosaic group of plant viruses; broad-bean strain virus was serologically related to cowpea mosaic, F I, red-clover mottle, and squash mosaic viruses. The particles of all these viruses and of true broad-bean mosaic virus were similar in appearance, sedimentation behaviour, and nucleic acid content and composition. The nucleic acid of red-clover mottle virus had a molar base content of G 20%, A 29%, C 20%, U 30%.     

Crystallization of belladonna mottle virus

Belladonna mottle virus belongs to the turnip yellows mosaic virus group of the small spherical plant viruses. It contains 180 protein subunits, which are arranged in a T = 3 icosahedral surface lattice. The top and bottom viral components crystallize isomorphously in hexagonal space group R3 ($\text{a = b = 296}\text{A}\text{?}\text{, c = 729}\text{A}\text{?}$). The unit cell contains three virus particles, while the crystallographic asymmetric unit consists of only one-third of a particle. X-ray diffraction data from the crystals extend to at least 3.8 Å resolution.     

Rottboellia yellow mottle virus,a new sobemovirus affecting Rottboellia cochinchinensis (Itch grass) in Nigeria1

A hitherto undescribed virus, termed rottboellia yellow mottle virus (RoYMV), affecting Rottboellia cochinchinensis (syn. R. exaltata, itch grass) at Ibadan, Nigeria, was investigated. RoYMV virions are isometric, c. 29 nm in diameter, and sediment homogeneously at 114s. In isopycnic CsCl gradients, RoYMV virions band sharply at a buoyant density of 1.379 g cm^-3, but in Cs₂SO₄ gradients, virions band at two zones, at the densities of 1.300 g cm^-3 and 1.325 g cm^-3. Treatment with EDTA at pH 8.0 reduced the sedimentation value of RoYMV to c. 87s and rendered it susceptible to proteinase-K, SDS and NaCl. The apparent molecular weight of RoYMV coat protein was c. 27 000. Virions encapsidate a single-stranded RNA of mol. wt 1.4 × 10⁶ Da. Besides R. cochinchinensis, RoYMV was mechanically transmissible only to maize (Zea mays). No reaction occurred when RoYMV was tested against antisera to 44 isometric plant viruses (belonging to 12 groups), including several that affect Gramineae. RoYMV exhibits striking similarities with other viruses belonging to the sobemovirus group, and it is tentatively designated as a new member of the sobemovirus group.     

Rhizobium leguminosarum inoculation decreases damage to faba bean (Vicia faba) caused by broad bean mottle bromovirus and bean yellow mosaic potyvirus

Faba bean (Vicia faba) plants were inoculated with rhizobia and then their sap was infected with broad bean mottle bromovirus (BBMV) or bean yellow mosaic potyvirus (BYMV) in a field experiment. Both viral infections significantly decreased shoot and root dry weight, number of nodules, nodule dry weight, numbers of flowers and pods/plant, total plant N, grain yield and N₂ fixation. However, inoculation withRhizobium leguminosarum significantly increased all these parameters, both in healthy and virus-infected plants. Although BYMV was more destructive than BBMV, inoculation with rhizobia could be used, with other control measures, to limit damage by both viruses.The authors are with the Department of Biochemistry and Soil Science, Faculty of Agriculture, Shambat, Sudan.     

Further evidence on the nature of the dependence of carrot mottle virus on carrot red leaf virus for transmission by aphids

Preparations were made from chervil plants doubly infected with carrot mottle virus (CMotV) and its helper virus, carrot red leaf (CRLV), on which it depends for transmission by the aphid Cavariella aegopodii, by the procedure developed previously for CRLV. The preparations contained 25 nm isometric particles which were indistinguishable from those of CRLV but possessed aphid-transmissible infectivity of both viruses and manually transmissible infectivity of CMotV. Only one sedimenting and buoyant density component was detected. The manually transmissible CMotV infectivity was resistant to freezing and to organic solvents, treatments that destroyed the CMotV infectivity in extracts from singly infected plants. The aphid-transmissible CMotV infectivity in preparations from CRLV/ CMotV-infected plants, and that in extracts from CRLV/CMotV-carrying C. aegopodii, was abolished by treatment with CRLV antiserum but not with normal serum. These results show that transmission of CMotV by C. aegopodii is dependent on the packaging of its RNA in coats composed partially or entirely of CRLV particle protein. The aphid Myzus persicae does not transmit CRLV or CMotV from plants mixedly or singly infected with these viruses but it is a vector of beet western yellows virus (BWYV) and potato leafroll virus (PLRV) and it transmitted CMotV from plants that also contained either of these viruses. This suggests that the coat proteins of BWYV and PLRV can substitute for that of CRLV in packaging CMotV nucleic acid and thereby confer on it their own vector specificities.     

Inhibition of Pepper mild mottle virus with Commercial Cellulases

Pepper mild mottle virus (PMMoV) is one of the most important pathogens of pepper crops (Capsicum annuum L.) worldwide. We have found that commercial cellulases from Trichoderma reesei and Trichoderma viride strongly inhibit PMMoV infection of plants. When purified PMMoV was mixed with the cellulases, it greatly lost the capacity to induce local lesions on leaves of Nicotiana glutinosa. Pretreatment of sweet pepper leaves (C. annuum L.) with cellulase solutions before PMMoV inoculation greatly reduced the number of infected plants. These effects were superior to the effects of known viral inhibitors such as skim milk or Lentinula edodes culture filtrates. Although the mechanism of inhibition remains unknown, this is the first report of antiviral activity ascribed to commercially available cellulases.     

Investigation of Ukrainian isolates of cucumber green mottle mosaic virus

Abstract

Isolates of cucumber green mottle mosaic virus (CGMMV) obtained from three greenhouses in Ukraine have been identified. The rabbit antisera have been generated for these isolates. These antisera can be used for diagnostics of CGMMV in plant material by indirect ELISA. Analysis of cDNA sequences of capsid protein of these viruses confirmed that they may be grouped into novel strain of CGMMV.     

Occurrence, Distribution and Relative Importance of Viruses Infecting Hot Pepper and Tomato in the Major Growing Areas of Ethiopia

Hot pepper and tomato fields in the main growing areas in the Rift Valley and the west of Ethiopia were surveyed for virus infections in 1994. A total of 286 samples from hot pepper and 222 samples from tomato plants and associated Datura stramonium L. and Nicandra physalodes Gaertn. weeds with symptoms suggestive of virus infections were collected and analysed using electron microscopy, serology and test plant reactions. Potato virus Y (PVY), Ethiopian pepper mottle virus (EPMV), pepper veinal mottle virus (PVMV) and tomato mosaic virus (ToMV) were detected in hot pepper samples while tomato samples were shown to be infected with tomato mild mottle virus (TMMV), PVY and ToMV. The most widespread and predominant viruses which also occurred frequently in mixed infections were PVY and EPMV in hot pepper and PVY and TMMV in tomato. TMMV was also found in many samples of D. stramonium and N. physalodes. ToMV was identified in only few samples from both crops in the Rift Valley by its characteristic particle morphology, serological properties and symptomatology. PVMV was found in hot pepper samples only from western Ethiopia, but no natural infection of tomato with this virus was revealed. This is the first report on the natural occurrence of TMMV in tomato, D. stramonium and N. physalodes, as well as of ToMV in hot pepper and tomato in Ethiopia.     

Occurrence of plantago mottle virus in pea, Pisum sativum, in New York State

Plantago mottle virus (RMV), a member of the tymovirus group, was identified as the causal agent of a disease of pea (Pisum sativum) in New York State. The pea virus isolates were identical in host range and serology to the type strain from Plantago major. In susceptible pea genotypes symptoms were strongly influenced by ambient temperature; high temperature (35^°C) reduced infectivity and suppressed symptoms, whereas low temperature (15 and 25^°C) prolonged the incubation period but favoured the development of conspicuous leaf veinal chlorosis, mottle and necrosis. Resistance to P1MV was found in seventeen of twenty-five domestic pea cultivars and in two of twelve foreign introductions. Many of the P1MV-resistant lines were resistant also to bean yellow mosaic virus. The use of resistant cultivars and the apparent limited conditions for efficient transmission of this virus have minimized its importance to pea crops in New York State.