Attributes of bean yellow mosaic potyvirus transmission from clover to snap beans by four species of aphids (Homoptera: Aphididae).

After characterization of the natural spread of necrosis-inducing Bean yellow mosaic potyvirus (family Potyviridae, genus Potyvirus, BYMV(N)), nonpersistently transmitted from clover, Trifolium repens L., to an adjacent field of snap bean, Phaseolus vulgaris L., in western Oregon, we established a study site enabling us to investigate the virus reservoir, to observe en masse transmission of BYMV(N) to bean plants, and to identify aphid species associated with virus spread. Colonies of Myzus persicae (Sulzer), Acyrthosiphon pisum (Harris), and Aphis fabae Scopoli associated with virus spread were established in an insectary and shown to vector this virus. Although Nearctaphis bakeri (Cowen) comprised 68% of aphid alatae taken from bean leaves during virus spread, we were unable to show that this species could vector the virus by using the same methods that were successful for the other species. Instead, we found that when two distinct N. bakeri colonies unexpectedly emerged from the roots of T. repens BYMV(N) source plants (WZwc #6 and #11) that were present in the laboratory (insectary), these aphids transmitted BYMVN at rates comparable with those of M. persicae and A. pisum. Transmission of BYMVN also occurred with two other N. bakeri colonies maintained for 4 mo on Trifolium pratense L. (NZwc Sch 3B and Sch 7C) BYMVN source plants. Each of these four BYMVN transmission successes also demonstrated an unprecedented once-only transmission of BYMV(N) by N. bakeri colonies. Our experience with western Oregon N. bakeri colonies was compared with descriptions of this native North American species after its 1960-1980s arrival in France, Germany, and Italy.

Potyvirus genome-linked protein (VPg) determines pea seed-borne mosaic virus pathotype-specific virulence in Pisum sativum.

The mechanism of Pisum sativum pathotype-specific resistance to pea seed-borne mosaic potyvirus (PSbMV) was investigated and the coding region determinant of PSbMV virulence was defined. Homozygous recessive sbm-1 peas are unable to support replication of PSbMV pathotype 1 (P-1), whereas biochemically and serologically related pathotype 4 (P-4) is fully infectious in the sbm-1/sbm-1 genotype. We were unable to detect viral coat protein or RNA with double antibody sandwich-enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction in sbm-1/sbm-1 P-1-inoculated protoplasts and plants. Lack of viral coat protein or RNA in P-1 transfected sbm-1/sbm-1 protoplasts suggests that sbm-1 resistance is occurring at the cellular level and that inhibition of cell-to-cell virus movement is not the operating form of resistance. In addition, because virus products were not detected at any time post-inoculation, resistance must either be constitutive or expressed very early in the virus infection process. P-1-resistant peas challenged with full-length, infectious P-1/P-4 recombinant clones demonstrated that a specific P-4 coding region, the 21-kDa, genome-linked protein (VPg), was capable of overcoming sbm-1 resistance, whereas clones containing the P-1 VPg coding region were noninfectious to sbm-1/sbm-1 peas. VPg is believed to be involved in potyvirus replication and its identification as the PSbMV determinant of infectivity in sbm-1/sbm-1 peas is consistent with disruption of an early P-1 replication event.

Multiple viral determinants affect seed transmission of pea seedborne mosaic virus in Pisum sativum.

Two pea seedborne mosaic potyvirus (PSbMV) isolates, P-1 DPD1 (P-1), which is highly seed-transmitted, and P-4 NY (P-4), which is rarely seed-transmitted, and chimeras between P-1 and P-4 were analysed to map the viral genetic determinants of seed transmission. Infectivity of chimeric viruses was evaluated by inoculating Pisum sativum with RNA transcribed in vitro from recombinant full-length cDNA clones. The chimeric viruses that were used demonstrated that a genomic segment encoding the 49 kDa protease and putative RNA polymerase was responsible for symptom induction. Attempts to determine transmission of the chimeric viruses in P. sativum cultivars known to transmit P1 at high frequencies showed that seed transmission is a quantitative character influenced by multiple viral determinants. Seed transmission frequency did not correlate with accumulation of virus in vegetative tissue. The 5' 2.5 kb of the 10 kb PSbMV genome had a major influence on the seed transmission frequency and was analysed further. This showed that, while the helper-component protease was a major determinant of seed transmission, the potyviral P1 -protease exerted no measurable influence.

Biological and molecular properties of a pathotype P-1 and a pathotype P-4 isolate of pea seed-borne mosaic virus.

Two isolates of pea seed-borne mosaic potyvirus, DPD1 and NY, were identified as pathotypes P-1 and P-4, respectively, by their infectivity on Pisum sativum L. lines homozygous for the recessive resistance genes sbm-1 and sbm-4. The two isolates differed in several biological characteristics. DPD1 induced transient vein clearing, downward rolling of leaflets and internode shortening on P. sativum, whereas NY only caused a slight growth reduction. DPD1 moved systemically in Chenopodium quinoa whereas NY was restricted to inoculated leaves. DPD1 was frequently transmitted by seeds whereas NY was rarely seed-transmitted: 24% and 0.3%, respectively, in P. sativum '549'. Both DPD1 and NY were transmitted by aphids (Myzus persicae), though a DAG triplet was not present in the N terminus of the coat protein. The nucleotide sequence and deduced amino acid sequence of NY were determined and compared to the corresponding sequences of DPD1.

Molecular detection of bean common mosaic and bean common mosaic necrosis potyviruses and pathogroups.

Partial nucleotide sequences of selected isolates of bean common mosaic virus (BCMV) and bean common mosaic necrosis virus (BCMNV) were determined. Based on these sequences and previously published sequence data, a reverse transcription, polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) in combination with restriction endonuclease analyses, was developed for molecular detection of BCMV, BCMNV and some viral pathogroups (PG). Specific detection of the two viruses was accomplished by constructing two virus-specific primer pairs that amplified a PCR product specific for each virus. By application of RT-PCR, four BCMV-PG-V isolates were differentiated from isolates of BCMV pathogroups I, II, IV and VII. Distinction of two BCMNV pathogroups (PG-III and PG-VI) was achieved by restriction enzyme XbaI digestion of BCMNV PCR products. However, no combination of tested restriction enzymes distinguished all five recognized BCMV pathogroups. A primer pair Dts/Uny15 proved to be specific for BCMV pathogroup PG-V. Thus, by a combination of RT-PCR and restriction enzyme analyses, it was possible to differentiate both viruses, two pathogroups of BCMNV, and one pathogroup of BCMV from the others.

Detection of pea seedborne mosaic potyvirus by sequence specific enzymatic amplification.

The polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was used to detect pea seedborne mosaic potyvirus (PSbMV) pathotype P1 RNA after reverse transcription of total nucleic acid preparations from pea (Pisum sativum) tissues. Tissues assayed for PSbMV included leaves, roots, petals, seed parts, and pollen. Three oligonucleotide primers in appropriate combination yielded two products of the predicted size: 730 and 1200 bp. The described methodology allows for rapid pathotype-specific PSbMV detection with utmost sensitivity and wide applicability.

Specific infectivity and host resistance have predicated potyviral and pathotype nomenclature but relate less to taxonomy.

The names of potyviruses and viral-strains have represented the occurrence of predominant pathotypes on predominant crop genotypes. Thus virus nomenclature, but not viral taxonomy, has been decisively influenced by plant-genotype susceptibility and indirectly by host genetic resistance. REsistance to infection (i.e., host range) continues to serve a practical role in differentiating recognized viruses. Plant genes that confer disease tolerance or viral resistance remain a principal means of viral pathotype differentiation, as well as a principal control measure against major viral pathogens. Degrees of genetic diversity among isolates of recognized viruses should not be underestimated, and any system of viral taxonomy should be prepared for flexibility at the species level.

Sources of resistance to viruses in the Potyviridae.

Resistance to 56 viruses in the family Potyviridae in 334 plant species was tabulated. Studies conducted in the last 60 years have elucidated the genetics and usefulness of 135 resistance genes, but no reports on the heritability of other sources of resistance are available. In most of the plant species, resistance to species of Potyviridae was simply inherited, either dominantly (60 genes) or recessively (39 genes). In some cases resistance was conferred by two or more genes. Symbols have been assigned to 86 genes, of which very few are duplicate entities. Resistance genes can be useful in determining relationships among these viruses, as well as for their identification. The role of conventional breeding and biotechnology in transferring genes from one species to another is discussed.

Immunological evidence for the capability of free-living Rhizobium japonicum to synthesize a portion of a nitrogenase component.

Immunodiffusion tests conducted under aerobic conditions demonstrated that cross-reactive material to antiserum prepared against the Mo-Fe protein component of nitrogenase from soybean nodule bacteroids was detectable in extracts of free-living Rhizobium japonicum cells cultured in a standard medium under: aerobic conditions; aerobic conditions with nitrate; aerobic conditions with ammonia; anaerobic conditions with nitrate; and anaerobic conditions with nitrate and ammonia. The most intense precipitin bands resulted from cross-reaction of the antiserum with extracts of cells cultured anaerobically with nitrate or anaerobically with ammonia and nitrate. Immunodiffusion experiments with crude bacteroid extract and purified Mo-Fe protein revealed a greater number of precipitin bands in tests conducted under aerobic conditions than those conducted under anaerobic conditions. These results indicate that some of the cross-reactive material observed under aerobic conditions resulted from breakdown of the Mo-Fe protein. Bacteroid extracts of nodules from plants supplied with ammonia exhibited only a trace of nitrogenase activity. The addition of an excess of the Fe protein component of nitrogenase, however, resulted in 270-fold enhancement of activity indication the presence of active Mo-Fe protein in these extracts. Our experiments together with results published elsewhere provide evidence that the genetic information for synthesis of a part of the Mo-Fe component of nitrogenase is carried by Rhizobium.