ARS | Publication request: Sequence Variability and Host Specificity among Curtoviruses Infecting Weed and Crop Hosts in California.

Submitted to: Phytopathology
Publication Type: Abstract
Publication Acceptance Date: May 1, 2004
Publication Date: June 20, 2004
Citation: Wintermantel, W.M. 2004. Sequence variability and host specificity among curtoviruses infecting weed and crop hosts in California. Phytopathology. 94(6S):111.

Technical Abstract: Curly top disease reemerged in 2001 as a serious threat to agriculture in California's San Joaquin Valley. The disease is caused by Beet curly top virus (BCTV) and related curtoviruses, and is transmitted by the beet leafhopper (Circulifer tenellus). BCTV infects a broad range of crop hosts including sugar beet, pepper, and tomato, as well as numerous native weeds. Prior molecular characterization of a limited number of curtoviruses from broad areas of the western US demonstrated that two related curtovirus species are responsible for most crop disease, but little information existed on curtovirus species distribution among weed hosts. Data collected over the past 2 years has focused on molecular characterization of large numbers of BCTV isolates from weed hosts present in the over wintering grounds of the Valley. Universal and specific primers were used to sequence and marker analysis, expands on previous studies and illustrates regional virus variability, host specificity of curtovirus species, and the continuum of isolates that exist in nature.