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Peanut mottle virus in East Africa
Author(s) -
BOCK K. R.
Publication year - 1973
Publication title -
annals of applied biology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.677
H-Index - 80
eISSN - 1744-7348
pISSN - 0003-4746
DOI - 10.1111/j.1744-7348.1973.tb07736.x
Subject(s) - biology , aphis craccivora , virus , serology , vigna , veterinary medicine , plant virus , agronomy , virology , horticulture , antibody , pest analysis , homoptera , aphididae , medicine , immunology
SUMMARY A very common and widespread virus pathogen of groundnut and soybean in East Africa was identified as peanut mottle virus (PnMV)* on the basis of particle morphology, serology, host range and reaction, transmission and physical properties. Virus concentration adequate for serological tests was obtained from cowpea ( Vigna unguiculata ) cultured at 27 °C but not at 23 °C. Purified preparations from this source gave a single, specific light‐scattering zone in sucrose density gradients. PnMV was purified using 0.5 M sodium citrate buffer containing 1% mercapto‐ethanol; an antiserum made against such preparations had a homologous titre of 1/8192. Groundnut and soya isolates from N., N.E., N.W. and S. districts of Uganda, N.W. Tanzania, and W. and E. (coastal) districts of Kenya were serologically similar and varied, within narrow limits, in symptoms induced in certain groundnut and soya varieties. A serologically related but distinct virus was isolated from Voandzeia subterranea. PnMV was not related serologically to any of ten viruses of the PVY group. Glasshouse experiments simulating groundkeeper conditions in the field indicated 20% seed transmission in groundnut; PnMV was transmitted by Aphis craccivora in the non‐persistent manner. All twenty‐one varieties and breeding lines of soybean tested were highly susceptible. The prevalence of PnMV in East Africa and the reduction in yield caused in groundnut indicates the virus to be economically important, and groundnut and soybean improvement programmes should include routine PnMV susceptibility tests.