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Title: MAIZE RAYADO FINO VIRUS: ECOLOGY AND EVOLUTION OF A HOST/VECTOR LIMITED PATHOGEN

Author
item Hammond, Rosemarie
item CHICAS, M - UNIVERSITY OF COSTA RICA
item CAVIEDES, M - UNIVERSITY OF COSTA RICA
item MADRIZ, K - UNIVERSITY OF COSTA RICA
item ALBERTAZZI, F - UNIVERSITY OF COSTA RICA
item VILLALOBOS, H - UNIVERSITY OF COSTA RICA
item RAMIREZ, P - UNIVERSITY OF COSTA RICA

Submitted to: American Phytopathology Society
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 4/20/2005
Publication Date: 7/1/2005
Citation: Hammond, R., Chicas, M., Caviedes, M., Madriz, K., Albertazzi, F., Villalobos, H., Ramirez, P. 2005. Maize rayado fino virus: ecology and evolution of a host/vector limited pathogen. American Phytopathology Society. 95:S40.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Maize rayado fino virus (MRFV), the type member of the genus Marafivirus in the family Tymoviridae, is the only known indigenous virus of maize in Mesoamerica. MRFV is transmitted in a persistent manner by leafhoppers of the genus Dalbulus, with D. maidis as the main vector. The host range of MRFV is restricted to the Gramineae, including maize, teosinte, and the perennial Zea spp. MRFV occurs in widely different ecological niches, from warm coastal plains to cool highlands, and at altitudes of 2000-3000 meters above sea level. It has been proposed that MRFV, its insect vector, and maize host coevolved in a triad in which the parasitic members (insect and virus) display highly specialized interactions. Phylogenetic analysis of the coat protein sequence of several isolates of MRFV collected from Central and South America separates the isolates into four geographically distinct subgroups. Genetic distances between the isolates suggest that MRFV originated in Mexico or Guatemala from which it spread. Experimental results will be presented to support this hypothesis.