Selection Progress for Resistance to Iris Yellow Spot in Onions

Onion thrips (Thrips tabaci Lindeman)–vectored Iris yellow spot virus (IYSV) causes the disease Iris yellow spot (IYS), which is a major threat to the sustainability of onion production worldwide. An increase in thrips resistance to various insecticides, high costs, and the limited efficacy of insecticides under hot and drier conditions found in various onion-growing regions restrict grower’s options for effective control of thrips and spread of IYSV. Because cultivars resistant to thrips and IYS are lacking, this study was undertaken to measure selection progress for IYS resistance after one selection cycle. In 2009, selections were performed on previously evaluated New Mexico State University (NMSU) breeding lines that showed some reduced IYS disease symptoms, and the selected plants self-pollinated the following year. In 2011 and 2012, plants from the original and selected populations along with a susceptible check, ‘Rumba’, were evaluated under field conditions when onion thrips and IYSV were present. Plants were rated for IYS disease severity and the number of thrips per plant was recorded three times during the study in each year. First-generation material, NMSU 10-776, NMSU 10-782, NMSU 10-785, NMSU 10-807, and NMSU 10-813, had fewer thrips number per plant, lower disease severity, and disease incidence than their original breeding lines on at least one or two rating times in both years. Some first-generation breeding lines performed better with a lower thrips number and disease severity than their original population in 1 year or the other. Most entries exhibited fewer thrips, lower IYS disease severity, and less incidence than the susceptible check ‘Rumba’ at most rating times. Overall, some progress was observed in this first-generation material for reduced IYS disease symptom expression when compared with their original populations.

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Evaluating Iris Yellow Spot Disease Incidence and Severity in Onion Germplasm of Varying Leaf Characteristics

HortScience ◽

10.21273/hortsci11770-17 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 52 (4) ◽

pp. 527-532 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Christopher S. Cramer ◽

Neel Kamal ◽

Narinder Singh

Keyword(s):

Disease Incidence ◽

Thrips Tabaci ◽

Yellow Spot ◽

State University ◽

Leaf Color ◽

Onion Thrips ◽

Spot Virus ◽

Disease Symptoms ◽

New Mexico State University ◽

Onion Cultivar

Iris yellow spot (IYS) disease, caused by Iris yellow spot virus (IYSV), results in irregular and diamond-shaped, chlorotic, and necrotic lesions on the leaves and seedstalks of onions (Allium cepa L.). These lesions reduce leaf photosynthetic area and ultimately reduce onion bulb size and yield from larger bulb classes. IYSV is vectored by onion thrips (Thrips tabaci L.) that are difficult to control under certain environmental conditions. Currently, no onion cultivar is resistant to the disease symptoms, virus, and/or thrips. Twenty-one cultivars and 17 germplasm lines were evaluated in the field for IYS disease severity and thrips densities at multiple times during the season as well as leaf color, waxiness, and axil openness of these entries. Plants were grown under conditions that favored thrips populations (high temperatures, low moisture, and no insecticidal spray applications), IYSV presence and distribution, and IYS development. Plants of New Mexico State University (NMSU) 07-10-1 had fewer thrips than several entries later in the season in both 2009 and 2010. Several entries exhibited a lower number of thrips per plant early or later in the season; however, these results were not consistent across years and were not associated with a particular foliage characteristic. Lighter leaf color and/or a lesser amount of epicuticular wax did not always result in the fewest number of thrips per plant as has been reported in the literature. Plants of NMSU 09-58 tended to exhibit fewer and less severe IYS symptoms early in the season as compared with plants of other entries.

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Reduced Iris Yellow Spot Symptoms through Selection within Onion Breeding Lines

Horticulturae ◽

10.3390/horticulturae7020012 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 7 (2) ◽

pp. 12

Author(s):

Neel Kamal ◽

Seyed Shahabeddin Nourbakhsh ◽

Christopher S. Cramer

Keyword(s):

Disease Severity ◽

Seed Production ◽

Thrips Tabaci ◽

Yellow Spot ◽

Symptom Expression ◽

Onion Thrips ◽

Spot Virus ◽

Breeding Lines ◽

Selection Cycle ◽

Allium Cepa L

Iris yellow spot (IYS) disease in onion (Allium cepa L.) is caused by onion thrips (Thrips tabaci L.) vectored Iris yellow spot virus (IYSV). The absence of cultivars that are resistant/tolerant to thrips and/or IYS is a challenge for onion bulb and seed production worldwide. To measure selection progress for reduced/delayed IYS symptom expression in onion breeding lines after two selection cycles, selections were performed in 2011 on previously evaluated lines that exhibited a reduced symptom expression after one selection cycle. Selected plants from each line were massed in a cage and the resulted progenies were evaluated in 2013 and 2014 along with their original populations and a susceptible check—’Rumba’. In some comparisons, the selection progress for delayed/reduced IYS symptom expression was observed for some breeding lines. Plants of most selected breeding lines exhibited less disease expression than plants of ‘Rumba’. For some selections, a low disease severity was observed even with a relatively high number of thrips per plant. These results suggest that further improvement might be achievable with additional cycles of selection.

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First Report of Iris yellow spot virus on Onion (Allium cepa) in Texas

Plant Disease ◽

10.1094/pd-90-1359b ◽

2006 ◽

Vol 90 (10) ◽

pp. 1359-1359 ◽

Cited By ~ 7

Author(s):

M. E. Miller ◽

R. R. Saldana ◽

M. C. Black ◽

H. R. Pappu

Keyword(s):

Disease Incidence ◽

Iris Yellow Spot Virus ◽

Yellow Spot ◽

N Gene ◽

Nucleotide Sequence Analysis ◽

Rt Pcr ◽

Onion Thrips ◽

Spot Virus ◽

Das Elisa ◽

Bulb Yield

Iris yellow spot virus (IYSV; family Bunyaviridae, genus Tospovirus) has emerged as a potentially devastating and widespread virus of onion. IYSV was first reported in the United States from Idaho in 1993 and has since spread to many of the onion-producing areas (1). In South America, the most recent reports of the virus on onion were from Peru and Chile (2,4). In 2005, onion plants in Uvalde County, Texas exhibited necrotic lesions on leaves typical of IYSV and disease incidence approached 100% in some fields with yield loss and quality problems. Five of six plants tested were positive for IYSV with double antibody sandwich-enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (DAS-ELISA; Agdia Inc., Elkhart, IN). In 2006, similar lesions were observed on onion plants in Uvalde County and approximately 400 km south in Hidalgo and Cameron counties. Infection points generally started as a single plant near the edge of fields and spread to plants in a 3- to 4-m area after 1 to 2 weeks. Early-season disease incidence was low in onions grown for bulbs and transplants, <10% in 2006. Disease incidence increased in some fields until the crop was harvested. Leaves of symptomatic plants were tested for IYSV and Tomato spotted wilt virus (TSWV) using DAS-ELISA, and 18 of 23 samples from the Hidalgo County area and 12 of 21 samples from the Uvalde County area were positive for IYSV. All samples tested for TSWV from these counties were negative. Virus infection in some ELISA-positive plants was verified by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) using primers derived from the small RNA of IYSV. The primers flanked the IYSV nucleocapsid (N) gene (5′-TAA AAC AAA CAT TCA AAC AA-3′ and 5′-CTC TTA AAC ACA TTT AAC AAG CAC-3′ (3). RT-PCR gave a PCR product of expected size (approximately 1.2 kb). The DNA amplicon was cloned and sequenced (GenBank Accession No. DQ658242). Nucleotide sequence analysis confirmed the identity of the amplicon as that of IYSV N gene and sequence comparisons with known IYSV N gene sequences showed 95 to 98% sequence identity. The primary vector of IYSV, onion thrips (Thrips tabaci), is a widespread and destructive pest of onion in south Texas. The year-to-year incidence of IYSV and the severity of the disease will probably depend on the onion thrips population levels. Bulb yield reduction could be severe during years with high thrips populations. More research is needed to determine the impact of IYSV on bulb yield in Texas, the relationship between IYSV incidence and T. tabaci population levels, and oversummering hosts. To our knowledge, this is the first known report of IYSV in Texas. References: (1) D. H. Gent et al. Plant Dis. 88:446, 2004, (2) S. W. Mullis et al. Plant Dis. 90:377, 2006, (3) H. Pappu et al. Arch. Virol. 151:1015, 2006. (4) M. Rosales et al. Plant Dis. 89:1245, 2005.

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Managing Onion Thrips can Limit Bacterial Stalk and Leaf Necrosis in Michigan Onion Fields

Plant Disease ◽

10.1094/pdis-07-18-1271-re ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 103 (5) ◽

pp. 938-943 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

A. S. Grode ◽

E. Brisco-McCann ◽

P. Wiriyajitsonboom ◽

M. K. Hausbeck ◽

Z. Szendrei

Keyword(s):

Cultural Practices ◽

Disease Incidence ◽

Insect Pest ◽

Management Program ◽

Thrips Tabaci ◽

Onion Thrips ◽

Leaf Necrosis ◽

Positive Correlations ◽

Thrips Population ◽

Reduce Disease Severity

Onion thrips (Thrips tabaci) is a major insect pest of onion and it has been identified as a likely vector of Pantoea agglomerans (bacterial stalk and leaf necrosis), a relatively new pathogen to Michigan’s onion industry. Our objective was to develop an integrated insect and disease management program by examining the efficacy of bactericides and insecticides alone and in combination to limit bacterial stalk and leaf necrosis caused by P. agglomerans. We also examined the association of onion thrips and disease incidence in the field, because thrips are known to transmit this pathogen. In the pesticide trial, insecticides reduced both thrips abundance and bacterial stalk and leaf necrosis incidence whereas bactericides alone did not reduce disease severity. Positive correlations among thrips population density, numbers of thrips positive for P. agglomerans, and bacterial stalk and leaf necrosis incidence in onion fields were determined. This study suggests that onion thrips feeding can facilitate the development of bacterial stalk and leaf necrosis in Michigan’s commercial onion fields, and results from the pesticide trials indicate that thrips feeding damage is positively correlated with disease incidence. Therefore, in order to reduce bacterial stalk and leaf necrosis incidence in onion, management efforts should include reducing onion thrips populations through the use of insecticides and other cultural practices.

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Spatial and Temporal Distribution of Iris yellow spot virus and Thrips in Colorado Onion Fields

Plant Health Progress ◽

10.1094/php-2010-0820-01-rs ◽

2010 ◽

Vol 11 (1) ◽

pp. 11 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Howard F. Schwartz ◽

David H. Gent ◽

Scott M. Fichtner ◽

Rajiv Khosla ◽

Linda A. Mahaffey ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Soil Ph ◽

Management Practices ◽

Disease Incidence ◽

Risk Index ◽

Iris Yellow Spot Virus ◽

Yellow Spot ◽

Onion Thrips ◽

Spot Virus ◽

Negatively Associated ◽

Sodium Percent

Iris yellow spot virus and its onion thrips vector (Thrips tabaci) are yield limiting pests of onion in the western United States. This two-year project investigated the relationship of iris yellow spot to thrips populations, soil properties, and grower management practices in six onion fields during 2005 and 2006 in Colorado. Thrips density (average number of thrips per plant per day) was negatively associated with soil pH (r = -0.61). The incidence of iris yellow spot at harvest was positively associated with organic matter, zinc, potassium, percent sodium, percent hydrogen, copper, iron, and soil pH. Thrips-days had a clear non-linear association with disease incidence at harvest. Onion plant population was positively associated with levels of iron, phosphorus, potassium, and zinc; and negatively associated with calcium, salts, percent potassium, and cation exchange capacity (CEC). Marketable (medium or larger sized bulbs) yield was negatively associated with phosphorus and percent potassium, and positively associated with salts, calcium, and CEC. Results from this project could contribute to the development of a risk index to predict potential risk from Iris yellow spot virus and its onion thrips vector. Accepted for publication 6 July 2010. Published 20 August 2010.

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Distribution and Transmission of Iris yellow spot virus

Plant Disease ◽

10.1094/pdis.2001.85.8.838 ◽

2001 ◽

Vol 85 (8) ◽

pp. 838-842 ◽

Cited By ~ 67

Author(s):

A. Kritzman ◽

M. Lampel ◽

B. Raccah ◽

A. Gera

Keyword(s):

Frankliniella Occidentalis ◽

Thrips Tabaci ◽

Iris Yellow Spot Virus ◽

Yellow Spot ◽

Onion Thrips ◽

Spot Virus ◽

Nucleocapsid Gene ◽

Thrips Species ◽

Mother Plants ◽

Thrips Population

Iris yellow spot virus (IYSV), a new tospovirus associated with a disease in onion (Allium cepa) that is known to growers in Israel as “straw bleaching,” was identified and further characterized by host range, serology, electron microscopy, and molecular analysis of the nucleocapsid gene. The transmissibility of IYSV by Thrips tabaci and Frankliniella occidentalis was studied. IYSV was efficiently transmitted by T. tabaci from infected to healthy onion seedlings and leaf pieces. Two biotypes of F. occidentalis, collected from two different locations in Israel, failed to transmit the virus. Surveys to relate the incidence of thrips populations to that of IYSV were conducted in onion fields. They revealed that the onion thrips T. tabaci was the predominant thrips species, and that its incidence was strongly related to that of IYSV. Forty-five percent of the thrips population collected from IYSV-infected onion and garlic fields in Israel transmitted the virus. IYSV was not transmitted to onion seedlings from infected mother plants through the seed, and was not located in bulbs of infected plants.

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First Report of Iris yellow spot virus in Onion in Mauritius

Plant Disease ◽

10.1094/pdis-10-09-0645 ◽

2010 ◽

Vol 94 (11) ◽

pp. 1373-1373 ◽

Cited By ~ 5

Author(s):

K. Lobin ◽

A. Saison ◽

B. Hostachy ◽

S. P. Benimadhu ◽

H. R. Pappu

Keyword(s):

Disease Incidence ◽

Consensus Sequence ◽

Thrips Tabaci ◽

Iris Yellow Spot Virus ◽

Yellow Spot ◽

N Gene ◽

Spot Virus ◽

Viral Pathogen ◽

First Report ◽

Das Elisa

Iris yellow spot virus (IYSV; family Bunyaviridae, genus Tospovirus) transmitted by thrips (Thrips tabaci Lindeman) is an economically important viral pathogen of bulb and seed onion (Allium cepa) crops in many onion-growing areas of the world (2,3). In Africa, IYSV has been reported in Reunion (4) and South Africa (1). In June 2008, diamond-shaped lesions that are typical of IYSV were observed on onion seed scapes in an onion plot of 0.25 ha at Reduit in the central part of Mauritius. Disease incidence was 80% with a severity of 50 to 75% of the scape surface area. Lodging was observed in 25% of the symptomatic plants. Twenty-two symptomatic plants were tested and found to be positive for IYSV when tested by double antibody sandwich (DAS)-ELISA with a commercially available kit (Agdia Inc., Elkhart, IN). The presence of the virus was confirmed by reverse transcription (RT)-PCR tests with primers 917L: 5′-TAAAACTTAACTAACACAAA-3′ and 56U: 5′-TCCTAAGTATTCACCAT-3′ as forward and reverse primers, respectively, for specific sequences flanking the CP gene. Another set of primers specific to the small (S) RNA of IYSV (5′-TAAAACAAACATTCAAACAA-3′ and 5′-CTCTTAAACACATTT AACAAGCAC-3′) produced an amplicon of approximately 1.2 kb that includes the 772-bp nucleocapsid (N) gene. The 1.2-kb amplicon was cloned and four clones were sequenced and consensus sequence was used for comparisons. Sequence analysis showed that the N gene of the IYSV isolate from Mauritius (GenBank Accession No. HM218822) shared the highest nucleotide sequence identity (99%) with several known IYSV N gene sequences (Accession Nos. FJ785835 and AM900393) available in the GenBank, confirming the presence of IYSV in the onion crops in Mauritius. A survey was subsequently carried out from July to November 2008 in major onion-growing localities at La Marie, Henrietta, Reduit, and Plaine Sophie (center); Bassin, La Ferme, and La Chaumiere (west); Grand Sable, Petit Sable, and Plaisance (south, southeast); and Belle Mare, Trou d'Eau Douce, and Palmar (east) to monitor the distribution of the disease on the island. Symptomatic samples with diamond-to-irregularly shaped lesions were observed and 155 symptomatic and 35 nonsymptomatic samples were collected and screened by DAS-ELISA for IYSV and Tomato spotted wilt virus (TSWV), another tospovirus reported to infect onion elsewhere. Sixty-six percent of the symptomatic samples screened (102 of 155) tested positive for IYSV. No IYSV was detected in the symptomless samples. There was no serological indication of TSWV infection in the samples. Samples that tested positive for IYSV were collected from Belle mare, Palmar, and Trou d'eau douce in the east and La Ferme in the west. Cultivars infected were Gandiole, Local Red, and Veronique. No IYSV was detected in the bulbs. The vector, T. tabaci, was observed in infected onion parcels surveyed and is known to occur in all onion-producing areas of the island. To our knowledge, this is the first report of IYSV in onion in Mauritius. Further surveys and monitoring of IYSV incidence, along with its impact on the yield, need to be established. References: (1) L. J. du Toit et al. Plant Dis. 91:1203, 2007. (2) D. H. Gent et al. Plant Dis. 88:446, 2004. (3) H. R. Pappu et al. Virus Res. 141:219, 2009. (4) I. Robène-Soustrade et al. Plant Pathol. 55:288, 2006.

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