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ARS Home » Pacific West Area » Salinas, California » Crop Improvement and Protection Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #182606

Title: BEET YELLOWS VIRUS

Author
item Wintermantel, William - Bill

Submitted to: Compendium of the Beet Diseases and Insects
Publication Type: Book / Chapter
Publication Acceptance Date: 3/17/2009
Publication Date: 5/21/2009
Citation: Wintermantel, W.M. 2009. BEET YELLOWS VIRUS. In: Compendium of the Beet Diseases and Pests. 2nd Ed., R.M. Harveson, eds., APS Press, St. Paul, MN. pp 46-47.

Interpretive Summary: Beet yellows virus (BYV) was the first component in the complex of diseases known as virus yellows to be characterized. Virus yellows refers to a disease resulting from one to several viruses causing beet leaves to yellow prematurely. Other viruses associated with the yellows complex include Beet western yellows virus, Beet chlorosis virus, and Beet mild yellowing virus. BYV is present in many beet growing regions throughout the world, and has been a serious problem in California, Eastern Europe, Asia and Chile. Symptoms on sugar beet range from mild yellowing to severe vein etching and leaf necrosis. Virulent isolates of BYV first induce vein clearing or vein yellowing in the younger leaves of infected plants. The vein clearing may be very bright yellow or have a necrotic etching appearance. Secondary and intermediate veins often appear sunken and develop an etch symptom. The leaves become thick, leathery, and brittle. In some instances, small, translucent, pinpoint spots appear on leaves approaching maturity. BYV primarily affects species of the family Chenopodiaceae, with most economically significant losses associated with sugarbeet, although at least 150 species in at least 15 dicotyledonous families have been demonstrated as hosts. BYV is transmitted by at least 22 species of aphids, the most important of which are Myzus persicae Sulzer and Aphis fabae Scopoli. Transmission is in a semipersistent manner; vectors retain the virus for one to four days.

Technical Abstract: APS’s Compendium of Beet Diseases and Insects. APS Press.