Location: Wheat, Sorghum and Forage Research
2019 Annual Report
Accomplishments
1. Wheat streak mosaic virus (WSMV) manipulates wheat curl mite gene expression for efficient transmission. WSMV is one of the most damaging pathogens of wheat in the Great Plains as it can cause yield losses of up to 100%. WSMV is transmitted exclusively by the wheat curl mite, which can quickly reach high population densities in the field and can transmit many other viruses, such as High Plains wheat mosaic virus, brome streak mosaic virus, and triticum mosaic virus. ARS scientists at Lincoln, Nebraska, found that WSMV alters the biology and behavior of mites in order to facilitate and expedite viral transmission by increasing reproduction and population levels, expediting maturation to adulthood, and increasing feeding rates. In order to understand how WSMV alters the physiology of wheat curl mites, gene expression levels in infected and uninfected mites were compared. Overall, lower expression levels of genes linked to development and immunity were observed in infected wheat curl mites. This study facilitates the understanding of how WSMV manipulates wheat curl mites to increase viral transmission rates by enhancing the number and growth and development of wheat curl mites. This research will ultimately lead to better prevention and control tactics to reduce wheat infection rates and yield losses in the field.
Review Publications
Gupta, A.K., Hein, G.L., Graybosch, R.A., Tatineni, S. 2018. Octapartite negative-sense RNA genome of high plains wheat mosaic virus encodes dual suppressors of RNA silencing. Virology. 518: 152-162. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.virol.2018.02.013.
Tatineni, S., Hein, G.L. 2018. Genetics and mechanisms underlying transmission of Wheat streak mosaic virus by the wheat curl mite. Current Opinion in Virology. 33:47-54. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.coviro.2018.07.012.
Guptar, A.K., Scully, E.D., Palmer, N.A., Geib, S.M., Sarath, G., Hein, G.L., Tatineni, S. 2019. Wheat streak mosaic virus alters the transcriptome of its vector, wheat curl mite (Aceria tosichella Keifer), to enhance mite development and population expansion. Journal of General Virology. 100(5):889-910. https://doi.org/10.1099/jgv.0.001256.
Rekalakunta Venka, C., Palmer, N.A., Edme, S.J., Sarath, G., Kovacs, F., Yuen, G., Mitchell, R., Tatineni, S. 2019. A two amino acid difference in the coat protein of satellite panicum mosaic virus isolates is responsible for differential synergistic interaction with panicum mosaic virus. Molecular Plant-Microbe Interactions. 32:479-490. https://doi.org/10.1094/MPMI-09-18-0247-R.
Tatineni, S., Alexander, J.A., Gupta, A.K., French, R.C. 2018. Asymmetry in synergistic interaction between wheat streak mosaic virus and triticum mosaic virus in wheat. Molecular Plant-Microbe Interactions. [Online Journal] Available:https://apsjournals.apsnet.org/doi/10.1094/MPMI-07-18-0189-R
