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Title: 1999 PLANT VIRUS SURVEY OF NATIVE PLANTS AND BARLEY IN ALASKA.

Author
item Robertson, Nancy
item Knight Slater, Denice

Submitted to: Phytopathology
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 3/15/2000
Publication Date: 6/20/2000
Citation: Robertson, N.L., Knight Slater, D.F. 2000. 1999 plant virus survey of native plants and barley in Alaska. Phytopathology. Vol. 90 (supplement):66

Interpretive Summary: In 1999, barley crops in the Alaskan interior and native plants in the Matanuska-Susitna state park units were surveyed for plant viruses. Plants with viral-like symptoms and corresponding healthy counterparts were collected and analyzed for plant viruses. Diseased barley leaves were confirmed to be infected with Barley yellow streak mosaic virus, BaYSMV, and is thus the first report of the classified emerging virus in Alaska. Two native plants, Lupinus nootkatensis and Pyrola asarifolia, are now being studied for natural viral infections. The virus detected in the diseased lupin plants have been tentatively placed in the plant virus family Tombusviridae. Two unique proteins were detected in diseased wintergreen plants (P. asarifolia) that give viral evidence. Based upon these findings, we will continue virus surveys to obtain a baseline for plant viruses in Alaska.

Technical Abstract: This report describes a 1999 plant virus survey in Alaska including barley, Hordeum vulgare, in the Alaskan interior, and native plants in the Matanuska-Susitna state park units. Plants with viral-like symptoms and corresponding healthy counterparts were collected. Leaves were extracted and virus partially purified to look for unique proteins on Coomassie stained SDS-PAGE. Suspect plants were studied for virus identification. Barley yellow streak mosaic virus, BaYSMV, was confirmed from barley. Two diseased native plants, Lupinus nootkatensis and Pyrola asarifolia, had virus-like proteins. Virus particles were extracted and characterized from l. nootkatensis and tentatively placed in the family Tombusviridae. Pyrola asarifolia contained either one or two unique proteins. The causal agent(s) is under investigation. We have detected the emerging virus, BaYSMV for the first time in Alaska, as well as viruses of native plants. Based upon these findings, we will continue virus surveys to obtain a baseline for plant viruses in Alaska.