Open AccessCo-infection of Beet mosaic virus with Beet Yellowing Viruses Leads to Increased Symptom Expression on Sugar Beet
Author(s) -
William M. Wintermantel
Publication year - 2005
Publication title -
plant disease
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.663
H-Index - 108
eISSN - 1943-7692
pISSN - 0191-2917
DOI - 10.1094/pd-89-0325
Subject(s) - sugar beet , biology , virus , virology , inoculation , plant virus , titer , cucumber mosaic virus , closterovirus , aphid , indicator plant , horticulture
Three distinct aphid-transmitted viruses associated with a yellowing disease on sugar beet were examined in single and mixed infections for the effects of virus interactions on plant weight, rate of symptom development, and virus concentration. Sugar beet lines exhibiting different degrees of susceptibility to the virus yellows complex were inoculated with either one, two, or all three viruses. Severe stunting, as measured by fresh plant biomass, was observed with mixed infections with Beet yellows virus (BYV) and Beet mosaic virus (BtMV), compared to single infections of these viruses. In addition, the overall rate of appearance of Beet western yellows virus (BWYV) symptoms increased during co-infection with BtMV. Synergistic effects on stunting severity, as measured by plant biomass, were more pronounced in susceptible beet lines, but similar patterns also were observed in lines exhibiting tolerance to virus yellows. Relative concentrations of viruses were compared among single and mixed infections using dot-blot hybridization with virus specific probes, and quantified by phosphorimage analysis. Titers of all three viruses increased as a result of co-infection compared with single infections.