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Effects of barley yellow dwarf virus on some varieties of Italian, hybrid and perennial ryegrasses and their implication for grass breeders
Author(s) -
CATHERALI P. L.,
PARRY ANNE L.
Publication year - 1987
Publication title -
plant pathology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.928
H-Index - 85
eISSN - 1365-3059
pISSN - 0032-0862
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-3059.1987.tb02214.x
Subject(s) - barley yellow dwarf , biology , agronomy , perennial plant , shoot , yield (engineering) , luteovirus , virus , plant virus , materials science , virology , metallurgy
With the exception of chlorotic streaks in a few plants, a severe strain of barley yellow dwarf virus (BYDV) transmitted by Rhopalosiplum padi caused no obvious foliar symptoms in 54 varieties of ryegrass when they were defoliated monthly. When defoliation ceased and yellow or red discoloration of the leaf tips was allowed to develop, it was a poor indicator of the seventy of disease effect on yield. Thus, some varieties which developed marked discoloration were less severely damaged than some with little or none While BYDV induced yield significant in some varieties of ryegrass, it increased it significantly in others. In some varieties these BYDV‐induced yield increases occurred throughout the year, but in others they occurred in 1 month and were offset by a yield decrease in another. BYDV infection caused a greater yield reduction in roots than in shoots. Even varieties giving increased shoot yield gave decreased root yield. The possible disadvantages of the resulting increase in shoot to root ratio are discussed. It is concluded that breeding ryegrass for BYDV‐induced yield increases may be easier and more rewarding than breeding for resistance or tolerance.