Studies on the host range of High Plains virus
As reported in EPPO RS 97/070, a new disease of maize and wheat had first been observed in the US High Plains (Colorado, Idaho, Kansas, Nebraska, Texas, Utah) in 1993. The causal agent is still unknown but a virus is suspected. It has been shown that the wheat curl mite (Aceria tosichella) can transmit the disease. This mite is also a vector of wheat streak mosaic virus and wheat spot mosaic virus. So far, only maize, barley and wheat had been confirmed as hosts and further studies were carried out to determine the host range of the High Plains virus. Barley (Hordeum vulgare), cheat (Bromus secalinus), maize (Zea mays), oat (Avena sativa), rye (Secale cereale), wheat (Triticum aestivum) were inoculated using the mite vector and tested (ELISA). All these species could be infected by the High Plains virus. In addition, several grass species were tested. Only Setaria glauca could be infected during the experiments, although in field surveys it has been observed that both S. glauca and S. viridis can be naturally infected by the High Plains virus. The authors concluded that a partial host range of the High Plains virus is the following: Avena sativa, Bromus secalinus, Hordeum vulgare, Secale cereale, Setaria glauca, Setaria viridis, Triticum aestivum, Zea mays.
Data sheets and pictures of symptoms of the High Plains virus on wheat and maize can be viewed on INTERNET:
http://ianrwww.
unl.edu/ianr/plntpath/ne
matode/PPATHPER/Hpv.htm (Note: on this site written by Dr Jensen, it is stated that there is evidence that High Plains virus may be seed transmitted in maize at very low level, and that samples of maize from three countries others than USA (from two continents) gave positive results when serologically tested).
Sources
Seifers, D.L.; Harvey, T.L.; Martin, T.J.; Jensen, S.G. (1998) A partial host range of the High Plains virus of corn and wheat.
Plant Disease, 82(8), 875-879.