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ARS Home » Pacific West Area » Salinas, California » Crop Improvement and Protection Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #160142

Title: CO-INFECTION OF BEET MOSAIC VIRUS WITH BEET YELLOWING VIRUSES LEADS TO INCREASED DISEASE SEVERITY ON SUGAR BEET

Author
item Wintermantel, William - Bill

Submitted to: Plant Disease
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 11/1/2004
Publication Date: 3/20/2005
Citation: Wintermantel, W.M. 2005. Co-infection of beet mosaic virus with beet yellowing viruses leads to increased disease severity on sugar beet. Plant Disease. 89:325-331. DOI:10.1094/PD-89-0325

Interpretive Summary: Three distinct aphid-transmitted viruses associated with a yellowing disease on sugar beet were examined in single and mixed infections for the effects of mixed virus infections on plant weight, rate of symptom development and virus concentration. Two sugarbeet varieties with that perform well (tolerant) in the presence of yellowing viruses, and two that perform poorly (susceptible) were inoculated with every combination of one, two or all three viruses. Severe stunting was observed during mixed infections with Beet yellows virus (BYV) and Beet mosaic virus (BtMV), compared to single infections of these viruses. In addition, symptoms resulting from infection by Beet western yellows virus (BWYV) developed much more quickly during co-infection with BtMV than when only BWYV was present in plants. Synergistic effects on stunting severity were more pronounced in susceptible beet varieties, but similar patterns were also observed in varieties exhibiting tolerance to virus yellows. Relative amounts of viruses in leaf tissue were compared among single and mixed infections using nucleic acid hybridization (Northern blotting) with virus specific probes, with quantification. Levels of all three viruses increased as a result of co-infection compared with single infections.

Technical Abstract: Three distinct aphid-transmitted viruses associated with a yellowing disease on sugar beet were examined in single and mixed infections for the effects of mixed virus infections on plant weight, rate of symptom development and virus concentration. Sugarbeet varieties exhibiting different levels of tolerance to the virus yellows complex were inoculated with every combination of one, two or all three viruses. Severe stunting was observed during mixed infections with Beet yellows virus (BYV) and Beet mosaic virus (BtMV), compared to single infections of these viruses. In addition, the rate of Beet western yellows virus (BWYV) symptom development increased during co-infection with BtMV. Synergistic effects on stunting severity were more pronounced in susceptible beet varieties, but similar patterns were also observed in varieties exhibiting tolerance to virus yellows. Relative levels of viruses were compared among single and mixed infections using dot blot hybridization with virus specific probes, and quantified by phosphorimage analysis. Levels of all three viruses increased as a result of co-infection compared with single infections.