Plant Virology

The 30 minute semester

with 3 examples from MT
PVY

WSMV

BYDV

Diagnosis
Symptoms
Mechanical or insect
transmission
Immunological (ELISA)
Nucleic acid (PCR)

How do viruses move from plant to

plant?
Insect vectors, nematodes
Mechanically (sap on
clothing/tools/equipment)
Seed, tubers
Pollen

Virus diseases in MT
Occur sporadically
Difficult to predict

Host

Vector
Pathogen
PotatovirusY
Wheatstreakmosaicvirus
Barleyyellowdwarfvirus

Environment

Insect transmission of plant

viruses: The Jargon
Vector = insect (or other means) of
transmitting the virus from plant to plant
Nonpersistant (stylet-borne)
Semipersistant
Persistant
Circulative, propogative
Circulative, nonpropogative

Insect transmission of plant

viruses: The Jargon, contd
Type

Acquisition

Time to start
transmitting

Nonpersistant

Seconds

Seconds

Min to Hours

Semipersistant
(foregut-borne)

Min. to
Hours

Min to Hours

Hours
(until molt)

Circulative
Propagative

Min. to
Hours

Hours to Days

Life

Circulative
Nonpropagative

Min. to
Hours

Hours to Days

Days to Life

Retention

Control of nonpersistant vs.

persistant
Insecticides are effective against persistant,
but not nonpersistant viruses
Plant resistance can be effective, but viruses
evolve rapidly
Prevent introducing the virus inoculum (seed,
tubers)
Prevent movement from volunteer plants by
getting rid of volunteers before planting
(green bridge)

Potato virus Y (PVY): The Host

Solanum tuberosum (potato)

Capsicum spp. (peppers)
Nicotiana spp. (tobacco)
Lycopersicon esculentum (tomato)

Primary source of inoculum = Seed potatoes

Potato virus Y (PVY): The Pathogen

Potyvirus (40% all known plant viruses)
Nonpersistant (stylet-borne)
Aphid transmitted

125

ITEV

Nonpersistant viruses stick to the stylet

Mediated by a protein, HC-Pro

Specific relationship

PVY: The Environment (control)

PVY does not spread rapidly in the
absence of the aphid vector
Can be transmitted mechanically

Insecticides are not effective

Best option is preventing inoculum
introduction
Some variety resistance

PVY: Disease triangle

Host :Resistance

Vector:Avoidance
Pathogen
:Exclusioncertifiedseed

Environment
:Scouting
:Roguing

Wheat streak mosaic virus: The Host

Infects both winter and spring wheat
Symptoms in spring

Earlier infection = greater yield loss

Grassy weeds, volunteer wheat, corn,
etc. can harbor both WSMV and the
mite vector

WSMV: The Pathogen

Family Potyviridae, genus Rymovirus
Mite-transmitted virus
Wheat curl mite survives on green tissue

WSMV: The Environment

Warm, dry conditions favor mite
reproduction

Wheat streak mosaic virus control

Early seeding of winter wheat favors mite and
WSMV spread
Eliminate the green bridge
3 week gap between herbicide
and planting

Avoid spraying herbicide on volunteer wheat

near spring wheat fields during cool, moist,
windy weather
Do not plant wheat next to late-maturing
(green) corn, which is also a mite host

Disease cycle of WSMV

Role of the predominant grassy

weeds as reservoirs of WSMV

WeedHost:VolunteerWheat

WSMV: Disease triangle

Host :Resistance

X
Pathogen
:Seedtransmission
(dontuseseedfrom
heavilyinfectedplants)

Vector:Avoidance
Environment
:beawareofthe
weather

Barley yellow dwarf virus: The Host

Infects barley, wheat, oats, rye, corn, triticale,
rice
Resistance has been developed, but
predicting the virus and aphid populations
from year to year can be difficult

BYDV: The Pathogen

Family Luteoviridae
Persistant, circulative, nonpropagative
First classified by primary aphid vector
MAV: Macrosiphum (Sitobion) avenae
PAV: Rhopalosiphum padi
RMV: Rhopalosiphum maidis
SGV: Schizaphis graminum
RPV: Rhopalosiphum padi

Insect transmission of plant viruses

Type

Acquisition

Time to start
transmitting

Nonpersistant

Seconds

Seconds

Min to Hours

Semipersistant
(foregut-borne)

Min. to
Hours

Min to Hours

Hours
(until molt)

Circulative
Propagative

Min. to
Hours

Hours to Days

Life

Circulative
Nonpropagative

Min. to
Hours

Hours to Days

Days to Life

Retention

Circulative nonpropagative
(Another very specific relationship)
Hemocoel
PSG

ASG

Midgut

Hindgut

Salivary
Canal

Phloem

Food
Canal

BYDV: The environment

Inoculum
Wild grasses, perennial grassy weeds
Aphid flights from other wheat-growing
areas

Insecticides can be very effective at

controlling the aphid and virus
transmission, if applied early

BYDV: Disease triangle

Host :Resistance

Vector :Insecticide
Pathogen
:Controlgrassyweeds

Environment
:Scouting

Wheat streak mosaic virus: The Host

Infects both winter and spring wheat
Symptoms in spring

Earlier infection = greater yield loss

Grassy weeds, volunteer wheat, corn,
etc. can harbor both WSMV and the
mite vector

WSMV: The Pathogen

Family Potyviridae, genus Rymovirus
Mite-transmitted virus
Wheat curl mite survives on green tissue