VIEW ARTICLE

Single and Double Virus Infection of Soybean: Plant Characteristics and Chemical Composition. J. W. Demski, Assistant Professor of Plant Pathology, University of Georgia Agricultural Experiment Stations, The Georgia Station, Experiment 30212; M. D. Jellum, Professor of Agronomy, University of Georgia Agricultural Experiment Stations, The Georgia Station, Experiment 30212. Phytopathology 65:1154-1156. Accepted for publication 15 May 1975. DOI: 10.1094/Phyto-65-1154.

Soybean Glycine max ‘Hampton 266A’ and ‘Jackson’ were inoculated singly and in double combinations with peanut mottle virus, cowpea chlorotic mottle virus, soybean mosaic virus, and tobacco ringspot virus. The effects of these viruses (singly and in combinations) on plant characteristics and chemical composition of soybean seed were evaluated. Yield and plant height were significantly reduced by all viruses and virus combinations, whereas other plant characteristics varied. In general, all single and double virus combinations caused an increase in seed protein content and a decrease in seed oil content of each cultivar. The percentage of the fatty acids linoleic and linolenic decreased while stearic and oleic increased in the oil of seed from virus infected plants. Virus infection had variable effect on palmitic acid levels. With double infections, all effects were additive or less than additive, and no synergism was observed.