Yellow dwarf virus resistance in barley: Phenotyping, remote imagery, and virus-vector characterization

Authors: MASSMAN, CHRIS - Oregon State University; Rivedal, Hannah; Dorman, Seth; TANNER, K - Oregon State University; FREDERICKSON, CHANCE - Oregon State University; Temple, Todd; FISK, SCOTT - Oregon State University; HELGERSON, LAURA - Oregon State University; HAYES, PATRICK - Oregon State University

Submitted to: Phytopathology
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 6/19/2024
Publication Date: 9/10/2024
Citation: Massman, C., Rivedal, H.M., Dorman, S.J., Tanner, K.C., Frederickson, C., Temple, T.N., Fisk, S., Helgerson, L., Hayes, P. 2024. Yellow dwarf virus resistance in barley: Phenotyping, remote imagery, and virus-vector characterization. Phytopathology. 114(9):2084-2095. https://doi.org/10.1094/PHYTO-10-23-0394-KC.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1094/PHYTO-10-23-0394-KC

Interpretive Summary: Yellow Dwarf Virus (YDV) is one of the most economically important barley viruses worldwide. There are many species of the virus that can infect barley, wheat, and numerous other grasses of agricultural importance. The virus is vectored by aphids, and detection and control of this virus-vector complex is challenging. Controlling this virus-vector complex could be obtainable through disease resistance breeding which would be environmentally and economically superior to chemical control options. Using multiple methods, including drone imaging to aid breeding efforts, this study evaluated 192 barley lines for resistance to aphids and YDV. Drone image analysis was highly correlated with on-the-ground disease severity ratings, indicating the utility of this method. A genetic region of interest for conferring YDV resistance was identified in this barley population through this study.

Technical Abstract: Yellow Dwarf Virus (YDV) is one of the most economically important barley (Hordeum Vulgare L.) viruses worldwide. It is spread by aphids and is comprised of two main groups, cereal yellow dwarf virus (CYDV, genus Polerovirus) and barley yellow dwarf virus (BYDV, genus Luteovirus). Detection and control of this family of viruses is critical to the production of barley, wheat, and numerous other grasses of agricultural importance. Genetic control of plant diseases is often preferable to chemical control to reduce the epidemiological, environmental, and economic cost of foliar insecticides. Accordingly, the objectives of this work were to I) screen a barley population for resistance to YDV under natural infection using phenotypic assessment of disease symptoms, II) implement drone imagery to further assess resistance and test its utility as a disease screening tool, III) identify the prevailing virus and vector types in the experimental environment, and IV) perform a genome-wide association study to identify genomic regions associated with all measured traits. Significant genetic differences were found in a population of 192 barley inbred lines regarding their YDV symptom severity and symptoms were moderately to highly correlated with grain yield among other plant phenotypes. The severity of YDV measured with aerial imaging was highly correlated with on-the-ground estimates. Three aphid species vectoring six YDV species were identified in the Corvallis, Oregon environment with no apparent genotypic influence on their distribution. A QTL impacting YDV resistance was detected on chromosome 2H, albeit undetected using aerial imaging. However, QTL for canopy cover and mean NDVI were successfully mapped using the drone as well as QTL for agronomic traits including yield, test weight and protein.