First Report of Rose rosette virus Associated with Rose Rosette Disease Infecting Knockout Roses in Florida

Roses are one of the most popular flowering shrubs in the United States, with a total wholesale value of US$194 million. Among the major states, Florida is the fourth largest producer of roses with a total value exceeding US$20 million (4). In Florida, the roses have become especially popular in recent years with the introduction of Knock Out and other shrub roses. Virus-like symptoms including witches'-broom, excessive thorns, abnormal red discoloration of shoots and foliages, distorted leaves, and deformed buds and flowers were initially observed on Knock Out roses in a commercial nursery in Quincy, FL, in November 2013. Fifteen plants out of ~250,000 plants showed these characteristic symptoms. Total RNA extracts (RNeasy Plant Mini Kit, Qiagen, Valencia, CA) from eight symptomatic and two non-symptomatic rose samples were subjected to reverse-transcription (RT) assays using SuperScript III Reverse transcriptase (Invitrogen, Life Technologies, NY) and random hexamer primers. The cDNA synthesized was then subjected to PCR assay using Platinum Taq DNA polymerase (Invitrogen, Life Technologies) and using Rose rosette virus (RRV) specific primers RRV-F and RRV-R (1), targeting the core region of the RNA1 genome of the virus. The RT-PCR assays using the specific primers produced amplicons of 375 bp, only in the symptomatic leaf samples. The obtained amplicons were PCR purified and sequenced directly (GenBank Accession Nos. KF990370 to KF990377). BLAST analysis of these sequences revealed a higher identity of 99% with the RRV (HQ871942) in the NCBI database. Pairwise comparison of the eight RRV sequences exhibited 99 to 100% identity among themselves. These results revealed the association of RRV with the symptomatic rose plants. Eight symptomatic and two non-symptomatic rose plant samples were tested for RRV using blot hybridization assay, utilizing a digoxigenin-labeled DNA probe of 511 bp, targeting the RNA1 genome of the RRV. All eight symptomatic rose plants showed a positive reaction to the RRV-specific probes, confirming the presence of RRV in the samples, while the non-symptomatic and the buffer control did not produce any reactions. Even though the virus is reported to spread by an eriophyid mite Phyllocoptes fructiphilus, thorough examination of the infected samples showed absence of the vector. The samples were also tested using RT-PCR for the presence of Rose cryptic virus (RCV) and Blackberry chlorotic ringspot virus (BCRV) using specific primers (2,3). The samples tested negative for the RCV and BCRV. This is the first report of occurrence of RRV on rose in Florida. Considering the economic importance of the rose plants and the highly destructive nature of RRV, this report underscores the need for immediate effective quarantine and management of the virus for protecting the economically important rose industry in Florida. References: (1) A. G. Laney et al. J. Gen. Virol. 92:1727, 2011. (2) S. Sabanadzovic and N. Abou Ghanem-Sabanadzovic. J. Plant Pathol. 90:287, 2008. (3) I. E. Tzanetakis et al. Plant Pathol. 55:568, 2006. (4) USDA. 2007 Census of Agriculture 3:25, Washington, DC, 2010.

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First Report of the Occurrence of Grapevine fanleaf virus in Washington State Vineyards

Plant Disease ◽

10.1094/pdis-92-8-1250a ◽

2008 ◽

Vol 92 (8) ◽

pp. 1250-1250 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

T. Mekuria ◽

R. R. Martin ◽

R. A. Naidu

Keyword(s):

Pacific Northwest ◽

Mixed Infection ◽

Consensus Sequence ◽

Amino Acid Level ◽

Pairwise Comparison ◽

The United States ◽

Washington State ◽

Rt Pcr ◽

Grapevine Fanleaf Virus ◽

First Report

Grapevine fanleaf virus (GFLV; genus Nepovirus, family Comoviridae), responsible for fanleaf degeneration disease, is one of the most important viruses of grapevines worldwide (1). During our reconnaissance studies during 2007, dormant wood cuttings from individual grapevines of wine grape cv. Chardonnay were collected randomly from two geographically separate vineyards in eastern Washington State. Extracts made from cambial scrapings of these cuttings were tested separately for different viruses by single-tube reverse transcription (RT)-PCR using virus-specific primers. Two of the thirty-one grapevines in one vineyard tested positive for GLFV as mixed infection with Grapevine leafroll-associated virus (GLRaV)-3. In another vineyard, six of the twenty-six grapevines tested positive for GFLV as mixed infection with GLRaV-1, GLRaV-3, and Grapevine virus A (GVA) A forward primer (5′-ACCGGATTGACGTGGGTGAT, corresponding to nucleotides [nt] 2231–2250) and reverse primer (5′-CCAAAGTTGGTTTCCCAAGA, complementary to nt 2533–2552) specific to RNA-2 of GFLV-F13 isolate (GenBank Accession No. X16907) were used in RT-PCR assays for the detection of GFLV (4). Primers used for RT-PCR detection of GLRaV-1, GLRaV-2, and GVA were described in Martin et al (2) and Minafra et al (3). The RT-PCR results indicated mixed infection of GFLV with GLRaV-1, GLRaV-3, and GVA. To confirm the presence of GFLV, the 322-bp sequence representing a portion of the coat protein encoded by RNA-2 genomic segment was cloned into pCR2.1 (Invitrogen Corp., Carlsbad, CA). Amplicons obtained from six individual grapevines in the two vineyards were used for cloning. Three independent clones per amplicon were sequenced from both orientations. Pairwise comparison of these sequences showed 99 to 100% nucleotide sequence identity among themselves, indicating that GFLV isolates from the two vineyards may be identical. A comparison of the consensus sequence (GenBank Accession No. EU573307) with corresponding sequences of other GFLVs deposited in GenBank showed 89 to 91% identity at the nucleotide level and 95 to 99% identity at the amino acid level. However, mixed infection of GFLV with different viruses in the two vineyards suggests separate introduction of the planting material. ELISA with GFLV-specific antibodies further confirmed the presence of the virus in samples that were positive in RT-PCR. To our knowledge, this is the first report of GFLV in grapevines grown in the Pacific Northwest states of the United States. Further investigations are being carried out on the distribution, symptoms, molecular variability, and nematode vector transmission of GFLV. References: (1) P. Andret-Link et al. J. Plant Pathol. 86:183, 2004. (2) R. R. Martin et al. Plant Dis. 89:763, 2005. (3) A. Minafra et al. Arch. Virol. 142:417, 1997 (4) A. Rowhani et al. Phytopathology 83:749, 1993.

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First Report of Turnip mosaic virus Infecting Brassica carinata (Ethiopian Mustard) in the United States

Plant Disease ◽

10.1094/pdis-05-13-0500-pdn ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 97 (12) ◽

pp. 1664-1664 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

B. Babu ◽

H. Dankers ◽

S. George ◽

D. Wright ◽

J. Marois ◽

...

Keyword(s):

United States ◽

Mosaic Virus ◽

The United States ◽

Turnip Mosaic Virus ◽

Brassica Carinata ◽

Rt Pcr ◽

First Report ◽

Ethiopian Mustard ◽

Plant Pathol ◽

Pcr Assays

Brassica carinata L. Braun (Ethiopian mustard) is an annual oil seed crop currently being evaluated for its potential use as a source of biofuel. Due to its high content of erucic acid, it provides a biodegradable non-fossil fuel feedstock that has many applications ranging from biofuels to other industrial uses such as polymers, waxes, and surfactants. Moreover, high glucosinolate content adds the scope of B. carinata being used as a bio-fumigant. B. carinata is amenable to low input agriculture and has great economic potential to be used as a winter crop, especially in the southeastern United States. Virus-like leaf symptoms including mosaic, ringspot, mottling, and puckering were observed on B. carinata (cvs. 080814 EM and 080880 EM) in field trials at Quincy, FL, during spring 2013, with disease incidence of >80%. A more extensive survey of the same field location indicated that mosaic symptoms were the most common. Viral inclusion assays (1) of leaves with a range of symptoms indicated the presence of potyvirus-like inclusion bodies. Total RNA extracts (RNeasy Plant Mini Kit, Qiagen Inc., Valencia, CA) from six symptomatic samples and one non-symptomatic B. carinata sample were subjected to reverse transcription (RT)-PCR assays using SuperScript III One-Step RT-PCR System (Invitrogen, Life Technologies, NY), and two sets of potyvirus-specific degenerate primers MJ1-F and MJ2-R (2) and NIb2F and NIb3R (3), targeting the core region of the CP and NIb, respectively. The RT-PCR assays using the CP and NIb specific primers produced amplicons of 327 bp and 350 bp, respectively, only in the symptomatic leaf samples. The obtained amplicons were gel-eluted and sequenced directly (GenBank Accession Nos. KC899803 to KC899808 for CP and KC899809 to KC899813 for NIb). BLAST analysis of these sequences revealed that they came from Turnip mosaic virus (TuMV). Pairwise comparisons of the CP (327 bp) and NIb (350 bp) segments revealed 98 to 99% and 96 to 98% nucleotide identities, respectively, with corresponding sequences of TuMV isolates. These results revealed the association of TuMV with symptomatic B. carinata leaf samples. Although TuMV has been reported from B. carinata in Zambia (4), this is the first report of its occurrence on B. carinata in the United States. Considering the importance of B. carinata as a biofuel source, this report underscores the need for developing effective virus management strategies for the crop. References: (1) R. G. Christie and J. R. Edwardson. Plant Dis. 70:273, 1986. (2) M. Grisoni et al. Plant Pathol. 55:523, 2006. (3) L. Zheng et al. Plant Pathol. 59:211, 2009. (4) D. S. Mingochi and A. Jensen. Acta Hortic. 218:289, 1988.

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First Report of Natural Infection of Greenhouse Tomatoes by Potato spindle tuber viroid in the United States

Plant Disease ◽

10.1094/pdis-07-10-0516 ◽

2010 ◽

Vol 94 (11) ◽

pp. 1376-1376 ◽

Cited By ~ 9

Author(s):

K.-S. Ling ◽

D. Sfetcu

Keyword(s):

United States ◽

Potato Spindle Tuber Viroid ◽

The United States ◽

Mechanical Transmission ◽

Rt Pcr ◽

Tomato Plants ◽

First Report ◽

Viroid Infection ◽

Plant Pathol ◽

Greenhouse Tomatoes

In April 2009, a large number of tomato plants (Solanum lycopersicum L.) grown in a commercial greenhouse facility near Los Angles, CA exhibited general plant stunting (short internodes) and foliar symptoms that included distortion, chlorosis, and scattered necrotic spotting. Over time, the leaves began to exhibit a purple color and curling. Diseased plants were often elongated and frail with spindly shoots. The disease resulted in a significant yield loss due to reduced fruit size. Disease symptoms described above are generally different from those of Pepino mosaic virus (PepMV) infection, which causes yellow mosaic or patches on leaves and marbling of fruits. The disease was initially localized in certain areas in a greenhouse despite using a number of cultural management efforts including vigorous scouting, roguing of diseased plants, and strict hygiene and cleaning practices. The disease was also observed in neighboring greenhouses by the spring of 2010. A standard panel of tests for common tomato viruses and viroids were conducted using the appropriate serological or PCR assays. Reverse transcription (RT) PCR analysis of nine symptomatic plants with pospiviroid-specific primers, Pospil-RE and Pospil-FW (3), produced an amplicon of the expected size (~196 bp) while three healthy looking tomato plants did not. Subsequently, full viroid genomic sequences were obtained through RT-PCR with primer sets specific for Potato spindle tuber viroid (PSTVd), 3H1/2H1 (2), as well as for the pospiviroid genus, MTTVd-F and MTTVd-R (1). Sequences obtained from direct sequencing of amplicons or cloned PCR products from one isolate were identical and consisted of a full viroid genome of 358 nt, which was named PSTVd-CA1 (GenBank Accession No. HM753555). BLASTn queries of the NCBI database showed that this isolate had a high sequence identity (98%) to other PSTVd isolates (i.e., EF044304, X52037, and Y09577). The disease was reproducible upon mechanical transmission (1) on three tomato ‘Moneymaker’ plants, which expressed symptoms that were similar to those on the source plants. Recovery of PSTVd on the inoculated tomato plants was confirmed by RT-PCR and sequencing. Because of its susceptibility to viroid infection, tomato ‘Moneymaker’ plants are commonly used as indicators for the study of pospiviroids, including PSTVd. Natural PSTVd infection on greenhouse tomatoes has been reported in Europe (3) and New Zealand. Although a number of reports in the United States have been published on naturally occurring PSTVd infections of potatoes, to our knowledge, this is the first report of a natural PSTVd infection on tomatoes in the United States. The exact source of the PSTVd inoculum in the current disease outbreak is unknown, but it could have been introduced from infected potato or ornamental plants (4) or through infected tomato seeds. The disease epidemic might have been enhanced by frequent hands-on activities in greenhouse tomato production and the environmental conditions (high temperature and intense lighting) in the greenhouse that favor symptom expression. References: (1) K.-S. Ling and W. Zhang, Plant Dis. 93:1216, 2009. (2). A. M. Shamloul et al. Can. J. Plant Pathol. 19:89, 1997. (3) J. Th. J. Verhoeven et al. Eur. J. Plant Pathol. 110:823, 2004. (4) J. Th. J. Verhoeven et al. Plant Pathol. 59:3, 2010.

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First Report of Tomato chlorosis virus in Lebanon

Plant Disease ◽

10.1094/pd-90-0378c ◽

2006 ◽

Vol 90 (3) ◽

pp. 378-378 ◽

Cited By ~ 15

Author(s):

Y. Abou-Jawdah ◽

C. El Mohtar ◽

H. Atamian ◽

H. Sobh

Keyword(s):

The United States ◽

Limiting Factor ◽

Rt Pcr ◽

Tomato Seedling ◽

Tomato Production ◽

First Report ◽

Tomato Seedlings ◽

Plant Pathol ◽

Tomato Chlorosis Virus ◽

Leaf Curl

Tomato seedlings showing leaf curl and yellowing symptoms characteristic of Tomato yellow leaf curl virus (TYLCV) were brought to the university laboratory from a commercial tomato greenhouse located in the Damour coastal area, south of Beirut, Lebanon. They were first tested using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) to ascertain their infection by TYLCV and then they were used in a trial to evaluate resistance of three local accessions of tomato to TYLCV, the major limiting factor to tomato production in Lebanon. Whiteflies (Bemisia tabaci), reared on broccoli for several generations, were allowed an acquisition access period of 48 h on tomato seedlings putatively infected with TYLCV and then were transferred to test plants at an average of 40 to 60 whiteflies per tomato seedling at the first-true leaf stage for an inoculation feeding period of 3 days. All treatments were conducted in insect-proof cages. Clear TYLCV symptoms were observed on the three local tomato accessions approximately 3 weeks after inoculation. However, 7 to 8 weeks after inoculation, many plants showed yellowing symptoms on the lower leaves that were not observed in previous experiments. Infections by Tomato chlorosis virus (ToCV) and/or Tomato infectious chlorosis virus (TICV), two criniviruses belonging to the family Closteroviridae, were suspected. Diagnostic tests using PCR for TYLCV detection (1) and reverse transcription (RT)-PCR for detection of ToCV (2) or TICV (3) showed that some tomato plants had a mixed infection with TYLCV and ToCV. None of the tested samples was positive for TICV. The RT-PCR amplicons (434 nt) obtained with the ToCV specific primers were cloned into pGEM-T easy vector. Sequence analysis of one clone revealed more than 99% nucleotide identity with the heat shock protein homologue (HSP70h) of ToCV isolates from the United States (GenBank Accession Nos. AY903448, AF024630, and AY444872) and 100% amino acid identity to ToCV isolates from Italy and Portugal (GenBank Accession Nos. AY048854.1 and AF234029.1). The sequence was submitted to GenBank (Accession No. DQ234079). Twenty-two tomato samples were then collected from plants showing yellowing symptoms on their lower leaves. The samples were taken from two greenhouses at the same farm in the Damour area. Six samples tested positive for ToCV using RT-PCR. To our knowledge, this is the first report of ToCV in Lebanon, but its incidence and distribution was not monitored. However, on the basis of symptoms and preliminary RT-PCR results, the disease does not appear to be widely spread in the country. References: (1) G. H. Anfoka et al. J. Plant Pathol. 87:65, 2005. (2) D. Louro et al. Eur. J. Plant Pathol. 106:589, 2000. (3) A. M. Vaira et al. Phytoparasitica 30:290, 2002.

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First Report of Grapevine leafroll-associated virus 4 and 5 in Grapevines in China

Plant Disease ◽

10.1094/pdis-94-1-0130a ◽

2010 ◽

Vol 94 (1) ◽

pp. 130-130 ◽

Cited By ~ 8

Author(s):

G.-Q. Pei ◽

Y.-F. Dong ◽

Z.-P. Zhang ◽

X.-D. Fan

Keyword(s):

Coat Protein ◽

Coat Protein Gene ◽

Protein Gene ◽

Germplasm Collection ◽

The United States ◽

Nucleotide Identity ◽

Rt Pcr ◽

Specific Primers ◽

First Report ◽

Single Clone

Grapevine leafroll disease (GLD) is one of the most important diseases of grapevines worldwide. Nine serologically distinct viruses in the Closteroviridae family are associated with GLD. Previous studies reported that Grapevine leafroll-associated virus (GLRaV) -1, -2, -3, and -7 were present in grapevines in China with GLRaV-1 and -3 the predominant viruses associated with GLD (1). To confirm if GLRaV-4 and -5 were also present in China, 36 dormant canes from individual vines of 29 cultivars that showed GLD leaf symptoms during the growing season were collected from the germplasm collection plot of the Research Institute of Pomology, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences. Total RNA extracted by a silica capture protocol (2) from phloem-enriched bark of 36 samples was tested separately for GLRaV-4 and -5 by reverse transcription (RT)-PCR using virus-specific primers. Primers LR4F (5′-ACATTCTCCACCTTGTGCTTTT-3′) and LR4R (5′-CATACAAGCGAGTGCAATTAC-3′) (4) were used to amplify a 321-bp fragment corresponding to a partial region of the HSP70 gene from GLRaV-4. One sample from cv. Autumn Royal was infected by GLRaV-4. The amplicon was cloned and a single clone was sequenced (GenBank Accession No. GQ246624) that showed 99% nucleotide identity with a corresponding region of a GLRaV-4 isolate from the United States (Accession No. AF039553). Since antiserum specific to GLRaV-4 was unavailable, a second pair of primers, LR4CP-F (5′-GGTGTCCAGCGCTTCCAA-3′) and LR4CP-R (5′-GCCAGAGAAGCATCGTAA-3′), was designed on the basis of the sequence of GLRaV-4 from Chile (Accession No. EU746620) that amplified a 300-bp fragment specific to the coat protein gene of GLRaV-4. The amplicon was cloned and a single sequence (Accession No. GQ479041) was compared with a corresponding nucleotide sequence of GLRaV-4 from Chile (Accession No. EU746621) showing 99% identity. A sample from cv. Malaga Rose was positive when tested by ELISA with antibodies specific to GLRaV-5 (Neogen Europe, Ltd. Scotland, UK) and this was confirmed by amplification of a 690-bp fragment corresponding to the GLRaV-5 coat protein gene using virus-specific primers LR5F (5′-CCCGTGATACAAGGTAGGACA-3′) and LR5R (5′-CAGACTTCACCTCCTGTTAC-3′) (3). The amplicon was cloned and a single clone was sequenced (Accession No. GQ246625) that showed 95% nucleotide identity with the CP gene sequence of GLRaV-5 from Argentina (Accession No. EU815935). To our knowledge, this is the first report of GLRaV-4 and -5 in grapevines in China. Confirmation of these viruses in China is very important for producing virus-free plants and this information also will be helpful in developing a multiplex RT-PCR assay to simultaneously detect multiple GLRaVs and helpful with studies on the molecular variability of these viruses. References: (1) Y. Dong et al. China Fruits 6:9, 2005. (2) X. Foissac et al. Acta Hortic. 550, 37, 2001. (3) X. Good and J. Monis. Phytopathology 91:274, 2001. (4) F. Osman et al. J. Virol. Methods 141:22, 2007.

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First Report of a New Potyvirus, Tricyrtis virus Y, and Lily virus X, a Potexvirus, in Tricyrtis formosana in the United States

Plant Disease ◽

10.1094/pdis-92-4-0648a ◽

2008 ◽

Vol 92 (4) ◽

pp. 648-648 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

R. L. Jordan ◽

M. A. Guaragna ◽

T. Van Buren ◽

M. L. Putnam

Keyword(s):

United States ◽

Amino Acid ◽

Mosaic Virus ◽

The United States ◽

Cdna Clones ◽

Gene Products ◽

Rt Pcr ◽

Degenerate Primers ◽

Specific Primers ◽

First Report

Tricyrtis formosana (toad lily) is an herbaceous perennial in the family Liliaceae. Native to Asia, T. formosana is now used in the United States as an ornamental border plant in woodland and shade gardens. A T. formosana var. stolonifera plant showing chlorosis and mild mosaic symptoms obtained from a commercial grower in Columbia County, Oregon tested positive for potyvirus by ELISA using our genus Potyvirus broad spectrum reacting PTY-1 Mab (3). Electron microscopic examination of negatively stained leaf-dip preparations from symptomatic leaves showed a mixture of two sizes of flexuous rod-shaped particles, approximately 700 nm long (resembling potyviruses) and 470 nm long (resembling potexviruses). Total RNA extracts from symptomatic leaves were used in reverse transcription (RT)-PCR assays with potyvirus- or potexvirus-specific primers. The degenerate primers for the genus Potyvirus (2) direct the amplification of approximately 1,600-bp fragments from the 3′ terminus of most potyviruses. Overlapping potexvirus cDNA clones were generated using degenerate genus Potexvirus replicase primers, and later, virus-specific primers in 3′ RACE (4). The RT-PCR amplified fragments were cloned and sequenced. Analysis of the 1,688 nt potyvirus sequence (GenBank Accession No. AY864850) using BLAST showed highest identity with members of the Bean common mosaic virus (BCMV) subgroup of potyviruses. Pairwise amino acid comparisons of the CP region of the new potyvirus showed 78% identity to strains of Bean common mosaic necrosis virus, 77% identity with Soybean mosaic virus and Ceratobium mosaic virus, 72 to 76% identity to strains of BCMV, and only 50 to 64% identity with 54 other potyviruses. Additionally, similar pairwise analysis of the CP nucleotide sequence and 3′NCR of the new potyvirus generally revealed the same identity trend as described for the CP amino acid sequences, albeit with the highest nucleotide identities at less than 73% for CP and less than 66% for the 3′NCR. These results suggest that this virus is a new species in the genus Potyvirus (1), which we have tentatively named Tricyrtis virus Y (TrVY). BLAST analysis of the 3′ terminal 3,010 nt potexvirus sequence (GenBank Accession No. AY864849) showed 89% nucleotide identity with Lily virus X (LVX). Pairwise amino acid comparisons of the putative gene products revealed 98, 95, 94 and 99% identity with LVX TGBp1, TGBp2, TGBp3-like, and CP, respectively, and 97% identity with the 108 nt 3′NCR. Homology with other members of the genus Potexvirus was less than 50% for these corresponding genes and gene products. ELISA and RT-PCR analysis for these two viruses in toad lily plants obtained from a grower in Illinois also revealed the presence of TrVY in three of seven cultivars and LVX coinfecting only one of the plants. The standard propagation method for T. formosana is plant division, which along with mechanical contact, provides efficient means for spread of both viruses. To our knowledge, this is the first description of this potyvirus and the first report of any potyvirus in T. formosana. LVX has been reported in Lilium formosanum, but to our knowledge, this is also the first report of LVX in T. formosana. References: (1) P. H. Berger et al. Potyviridae. Page 819 in: Virus Taxonomy: 8th Rep. ICTV, 2005. (2) M. A. Guaragna et al. Acta. Hortic. 722:209, 2006. (3) R. L. Jordan and J. Hammond. J. Gen. Virol. 72:1531, 1991. (4) C. J. Maroon-Lango et al. Arch. Virol. 150:1187, 2005.

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First Report of Mosaic Disease Caused by Colombian datura virus on Solanum lycopersicum Plants Commercially Cultivated in Japan

Plant Disease ◽

10.1094/pdis-06-13-0668-pdn ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 98 (5) ◽

pp. 698-698 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Y. Tomitaka ◽

T. Usugi ◽

R. Kozuka ◽

S. Tsuda

Keyword(s):

Nucleotide Sequence ◽

Solanum Lycopersicum ◽

Mosaic Disease ◽

Causal Agent ◽

Cultivated Plants ◽

Rt Pcr ◽

Degenerate Primers ◽

Specific Primers ◽

Tomato Plants ◽

First Report

In 2009, some commercially grown tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) plants in Chiba Prefecture, Japan, exhibited mosaic symptoms. Ten plants from a total of about 72,000 cultivated plants in the greenhouses showed such symptoms. To identify the causal agent, sap from leaves of the diseased plants was inoculated into Chenopodium quinoa and Nicotiana benthamiana plants. Local necrotic lesions appeared on inoculated leaves of C. quinoa, but no systemic infection was observed. Systemic mosaic symptoms were observed on the N. benthamiana plants inoculated. Single local lesion isolation was performed three times using C. quinoa to obtain a reference isolate for further characterization. N. benthamiana was used for propagation of the isolate. Sap from infected leaves of N. benthamiana was mechanically inoculated into three individual S. lycopersicum cv. Momotaro. Symptoms appearing on inoculated tomatoes were indistinguishable from those of diseased tomato plants found initially in the greenhouse. Flexuous, filamentous particles, ~750 nm long, were observed by electron microscopy in the sap of the tomato plants inoculated with the isolate, indicating that the infecting virus may belong to the family Potyviridae. To determine genomic sequence of the virus, RT-PCR was performed. Total RNA was extracted from the tomato leaves experimentally infected with the isolate using an RNeasy Plant Mini kit (QIAGEN, Hilden, Germany). RT-PCR was performed by using a set of universal, degenerate primers for Potyviruses as previously reported (2). Amplicons (~1,500 bp) generated by RT-PCR were extracted from the gels using the QIAquick Gel Extraction kit (QIAGEN) and cloned into pCR-BluntII TOPO (Invitrogen, San Diego, CA). DNA sequences of three individual clones were determined using a combination of plasmid and virus-specific primers, showing that identity among three clones was 99.8%. A consensus nucleotide sequence of the isolate was deposited in GenBank (AB823816). BLASTn analysis of the nucleotide sequence determined showed 99% identity with a partial sequence in the NIb/coat protein (CP) region of Colombian datura virus (CDV) tobacco isolate (JQ801448). Comparison of the amino acid sequence predicted for the CP with previously reported sequences for CDV (AY621656, AJ237923, EU571230, AM113759, AM113754, and AM113761) showed 97 to 100% identity range. Subsequently, CDV infection in both the original and experimentally inoculated plants was confirmed by RT-PCR using CDV-specific primers (CDVv and CDVvc; [1]), and, hence, the causal agent of the tomato disease observed in greenhouse tomatoes was proved to be CDV. The first case of CDV on tomato was reported in Netherlands (3), indicating that CDV was transmitted by aphids from CDV-infected Brugmansia plants cultivated in the same greenhouse. We carefully investigated whether Brugmansia plants naturally grew around the greenhouses, but we could not find them inside or in proximity to the greenhouses. Therefore, sources of CDV inoculum in Japan are still unclear. This is the first report of a mosaic disease caused by CDV on commercially cultivated S. lycopersicum in Japan. References: (1) D. O. Chellemi et al. Plant Dis. 95:755, 2011. (2) J. Chen et al. Arch. Virol. 146:757, 2001. (3) J. Th. J. Verhoeven et al. Eur. J. Plant. Pathol. 102:895, 1996.

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First Report of Orange Rust of Sugarcane Caused by Puccinia kuehnii in Colombia

Plant Disease ◽

10.1094/pdis-05-11-0406 ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 96 (1) ◽

pp. 143-143 ◽

Cited By ~ 6

Author(s):

M. Cadavid ◽

J. C. Ángel ◽

J. I. Victoria

Keyword(s):

Internal Transcribed Spacer ◽

Pcr Primers ◽

The United States ◽

Optical Microscope ◽

First Report ◽

5.8S Rdna ◽

Specific Pcr ◽

Plant Pathol ◽

Species Specific ◽

New Cultivars

Symptoms of sugarcane orange rust were first observed in July 2010 on sugarcane (interspecific hybrid of Saccharum L. species) cv. CC 01-1884 planted in the La Cabaña Sugar Mill, Puerto Tejada, Colombia. Morphological features of uredinial lesions and urediniospores inspected with an optical microscope and scanning electron microscopy were distinct from common rust of sugarcane caused by Puccinia melanocephala Syd. & P. Syd., revealing spores identical morphologically to those described for the fungus P. kuehnii (Kruger) E. Butler, causal agent of sugarcane orange rust (1,3). Uredinial lesions were orange and distinctly lighter in color than pustules of P. melanocephala. Urediniospores were orange to light cinnamon brown, mostly ovoid to pyriform, variable in size (27.3 to 39.2 × 16.7 to 21.2 μm), with pronounced apical wall and moderately echinulate with spines evenly distributed. Paraphyses, telia, and teliospores were not observed. Species-specific PCR primers designed from the internal transcribed spacer (ITS)1, ITS2, and 5.8S rDNA regions of P. melanocephala and P. kuehnii were used to differentiate the two species (2). The primers Pm1-F and Pm1-R amplified a 480-bp product from P. melanocepahala DNA in leaf samples with symptoms of common rust. By contrast, the primers Pk1-F and Pk1-R generated a 527-bp product from presumed P. kuehnii DNA in leaf samples with signs of orange rust, confirming the identity as P. kuehnii. The Centro de Investigación de la Caña de Azúcar de Colombia (Cenicaña) started a survey of different cultivars in nurseries and experimental and commercial fields in the Cauca River Valley and collected leaf samples for additional analyses. Experimental cvs. CC 01-1884, CC 01-1866, and CC 01-1305 were found to be highly susceptible to orange rust and were eliminated from regional trials, whereas commercial cvs. CC 85-92 and CC 84-75, the most widely grown cultivars, were resistant. With the discovery of orange rust of sugarcane in Colombia, Cenicaña has incorporated orange rust resistance in the selection and development of new cultivars. To our knowledge, this is the first report of P. kuehnii on sugarcane in Colombia. Orange rust has also been reported from the United States, Cuba, Mexico, Guatemala, Nicaragua, El Salvador, Costa Rica, Panama, Ecuador, and Brazil. References: (1) J. C. Comstock et al. Plant Dis. 92:175, 2008. (2) N. C. Glynn et al. Plant Pathol. 59:703, 2010. (3) E. V. Virtudazo et al. Mycoscience 42:167, 2001.

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First Report of Natural Infection of Penstemon acuminatus with Cucumber mosaic virus in the Treasure Valley Region of Idaho and Oregon

Plant Disease ◽

10.1094/pdis-93-7-0762a ◽

2009 ◽

Vol 93 (7) ◽

pp. 762-762 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

R. K. Sampangi ◽

C. Almeyda ◽

K. L. Druffel ◽

S. Krishna Mohan ◽

C. C. Shock ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Cucumber Mosaic Virus ◽

Mosaic Virus ◽

Great Basin ◽

Natural Infection ◽

The United States ◽

Native Plant ◽

Rt Pcr ◽

Cmv Infection ◽

Spot Virus ◽

First Report

Penstemons are perennials that are grown for their attractive flowers in the United States. Penstemon species (P. acuminatus, P. deustus, and P. speciosus) are among the native forbs considered as a high priority for restoration of great basin rangelands. During the summer of 2008, symptoms of red spots and rings were observed on leaves of P. acuminatus (family Scrophulariaceae) in an experimental trial in Malheur County, Oregon where the seeds from several native forbs were multiplied for restoration of range plants in intermountain areas. These plants were cultivated as part of the Great Basin Native Plant Selection and Increase Project. Several native wildflower species are grown for seed production in these experimental plots. Plants showed red foliar ringspots and streaks late in the season. Fungal or bacterial infection was ruled out. Two tospoviruses, Impatiens necrotic spot virus and Tomato spotted wilt virus, and one nepovirus, Tomato ring spot virus, are known to infect penstemon (2,3). Recently, a strain of Turnip vein-clearing virus, referred to as Penstemon ringspot virus, was reported in penstemon from Minnesota (1). Symptomatic leaves from the penstemon plants were negative for these viruses when tested by ELISA or reverse transcription (RT)-PCR. However, samples were found to be positive for Cucumber mosaic virus (CMV) when tested by a commercially available kit (Agdia Inc., Elkhart, IN). To verify CMV infection, total nucleic acid extracts from the symptomatic areas of the leaves were prepared and used in RT-PCR. Primers specific to the RNA-3 of CMV were designed on the basis of CMV sequences available in GenBank. The primer pair consisted of CMV V166: 5′ CCA ACC TTT GTA GGG AGT GA 3′ and CMV C563: 5′ TAC ACG AGG ACG GCG TAC TT 3′. An amplicon of the expected size (400 bp) was obtained and cloned and sequenced. BLAST search of the GenBank for related sequences showed that the sequence obtained from penstemon was highly identical to several CMV sequences, with the highest identity (98%) with that of a sequence from Taiwan (GenBank No. D49496). CMV from infected penstemon was successfully transmitted by mechanical inoculation to cucumber seedlings. Infection of cucumber plants was confirmed by ELISA and RT-PCR. To our knowledge, this is the first report of CMV infection of P. acuminatus. With the ongoing efforts to revegetate the intermountain west with native forbs, there is a need for a comprehensive survey of pests and diseases affecting these plants. References: (1) B. E. Lockhart et al. Plant Dis. 92:725, 2008. (2) D. Louro. Acta Hortic. 431:99, 1996. (3) M. Navalinskiene et al. Trans. Estonian Agric. Univ. 209:140, 2000.

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First Report of Grapevine leafroll associated virus-3 in American Vitis spp. Grapevines in Washington State

Plant Disease ◽

10.1094/pd-90-1461a ◽

2006 ◽

Vol 90 (11) ◽

pp. 1461-1461 ◽

Cited By ~ 8

Author(s):

M. J. Soule ◽

K. C. Eastwell ◽

R. A. Naidu

Keyword(s):

New York ◽

Economic Impact ◽

Virus Disease ◽

The United States ◽

Washington State ◽

The State ◽

Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay ◽

Rt Pcr ◽

First Report ◽

Table Grapes

Washington State is the largest producer of juice grapes (Vitis labruscana ‘Concord’ and Vitis labrusca ‘Niagara’) and ranks second in wine grape production in the United States. Grapevine leafroll disease (GLD) is the most wide spread and economically significant virus disease in wine grapes in the state. Previous studies (2) have shown that Grapevine leafroll associated virus-3 (GLRaV-3) is the predominant virus associated with GLD. However, little is known about the incidence and economic impact of GLD on juice and table grapes. Because typical GLD symptoms may not be obvious among these cultivars, the prevalence and economic impact of GLD in Concord and Niagara, the most widely planted cultivars in Washington State, has received little attention from the grape and nursery industries. During the 2005 growing season, 32 samples from three vineyards and one nursery of ‘Concord’ and three samples from one nursery of ‘Niagara’ were collected randomly. Petiole extracts were tested by single-tube reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR; 3) with primers LC 1 (5′-CGC TAG GGC TGT GGA AGT ATT-3′) and LC 2 (5′-GTT GTC CCG GGT ACC AGA TAT-3′), specific for the heat shock protein 70 homologue (Hsp70h gene) of GLRaV-3 (GenBank Accession No. AF037268). One ‘Niagara’ nursery sample and eleven ‘Concord’ samples from the three vineyards tested positive for GLRaV-3, producing a single band of the expected size of 546 bp. The ‘Niagara’ and six of the ‘Concord’ RT-PCR products were cloned in pCR2.1 (Invitrogen Corp, Carlsbad, CA) and the sequences (GenBank Accession Nos. DQ780885, DQ780886, DQ780887, DQ780888, DQ780889, DQ780890, and DQ780891) compared with the respective sequence of a New York isolate of GLRaV-3 (GenBank Accession No. AF037268). The analysis revealed that GLRaV-3 isolates from ‘Concord’ and ‘Niagara’ share nucleotide identities of 94 to 98% and amino acid identities and similarities of 97 to 98% with the Hsp70h gene homologue of the New York isolate of GLRaV-3. Additional testing by double-antibody sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (DAS-ELISA) using antibodies specific to GLRaV-3 (BIOREBA AG, Reinach, Switzerland) further confirmed these results in the ‘Niagara’ and two of the ‘Concord’ isolates. GLRaV-3 has previously been reported in labrusca cvs. Concord and Niagara in western New York (4) and Canada (1), but to our knowledge, this is the first report of GLRaV-3 in American grapevine species in the Pacific Northwest. Because wine and juice grapes are widely grown in proximity to each other in Washington State and grape mealybug (Pseudococcus maritimus), the putative vector of GLRaV-3, is present in the state vineyards, further studies will focus on the role of American grapevine species in the epidemiology of GLD. References: (1) D. J. MacKenzie et al. Plant Dis. 80:955, 1996. (2) R. R. Martin et al. Plant Dis. 89:763, 2005. (3) A. Rowhani et al. ICGV, Extended Abstracts, 13:148, 2000. (4) W. F. Wilcox et al. Plant Dis. 82:1062, 1998.

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