Role of alternative weed hosts in transmission of beet necrotic yellow vein furovirus
Studies were carried out in UK on the role of alternative weed hosts of beet necrotic yellow vein furovirus (EPPO A2 quarantine pest) in disease transmission. The authors recalled that the first outbreak of rhizomania in UK was reported from Suffolk in 1987 and a further 51 outbreaks have been reported since. However, these are still confined to limited areas of Norfolk and Suffolk (East of England). The host range of beet necrotic yellow vein furovirus and Polymyxa betae was determined by growing plants in naturally infested soils from these areas in glasshouse conditions, followed by ELISA testing. Results showed that plant species infected by rhizomania (except Beta vulgaris) were included in the families Chenopodiaceae (Atriplex patula, Chenopodium bonus-henricus, C. hybridum, C. polyspermum and Spinacia oleracea), Amaranthaceae (Amaranthus retroflexus) and Caryophyllaceae (Silene alba, S. vulgaris, S. noctiflora and Stellaria graminea). Only Polymyxa betae isolates from B. vulgaris, C. polyspermum and S. oleracea were found to be able to transmit rhizomania back to sugarbeet. In addition, when various species of weeds from infested fields were tested, none was found infected by rhizomania. The authors concluded that the weed hosts probably play only a minor role in spreading the disease in the field, compared to that of B. vulgaris, B. vulgaris crop types or spinach (S. oleracea).
Sources
Hugo, S.A.; Henry, C.M.; Harju, V. (1996) The role of alternative hosts of Polymyxa betae in transmission of beet necrotic yellow vein virus (BNYVV) in England.
Plant Pathology, 45(4), 662-666.