Eriophyid mite transmission and host range of a Brome streak mosaic virus isolate derived from a full-length cDNA clone.

Biolistic inoculation of Hordeum vulgare and Phalaris paradoxa with a brome streak mosaic virus (BrSMV) full-length cDNA clone (pBrSMV(fl)) led to typical leaf streak symptoms in both plant species. Infected H. vulgare plants showed a more stunted growth 8 weeks after symptom appearance compared to BrSMV wild type (BrSMV(wt))-infected plants. Moreover, a slightly higher virus titer was observed in BrSMV(fl)-inoculated H. vulgare, A. sativa and P. paradoxa plants. The biological activity of BrSMV(fl) and BrSMV(wt) was verified in vector transmission assays, providing the first experimental evidence that Aceria tosichella can act as a natural vector of BrSMV.