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Etiology

Neutralization of Beet Western Yellows Virus by Antisera Against Barley Yellow Dwarf Virus. James E. Duffus, Plant Pathologist, Western Region, Agricultural Research Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, U.S. Agricultural Research Station, P. O. Box 5098, Salinas, CA 93901; W. F. Rochow, Research Plant Pathologist, Northeastern Region, Agricultural Research Service, Department of Agriculture, and Professor of Plant Pathology, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853. Phytopathology 68:45-49. Accepted for publication 21 June 1977. Copyright © 1978 The American Phytopathological Society, 3340 Pilot Knob Road, St. Paul, MN 55121. All rights reserved.. DOI: 10.1094/Phyto-68-45.

A possible relationship between beet western yellows virus (BWYV), a damaging virus of dicotyledonous plants, and barley yellow dwarf virus (BYDV), a virus of major economic importance in monocotyledonous grains and grasses was suspected on the basis of their biological properties. Antisera prepared against the MAV, RPV, and PAV isolates of BYDV in New York were tested against four isolates (ST-1, ST-7, ST-9, and E-4) of BWYV in California. Virus-antiserum mixtures were subjected to density-gradient centrifugation, analyzed photometrically, and tested for virus neutralization. Antisera prepared against the three isolates of BYDV reduced or eliminated virus antigen in scanning patterns and reduced or eliminated virus in the normal BWYV-bearing zones. Antiserum against healthy shepherd’s purse or oat juice did not affect scanning patterns or infectivity. In contrast to the reaction of BYDV antiserum, none of 29 different antisera to 23 different viruses neutralized BWYV. In five of 14 tests Myzus persicae transmitted BWYV to oats (Avena byzantina). In nine of 20 tests Macrosiphum avenae transmitted BWYV to shepherd’s purse. Inoculations of over 850 BWYV host plants failed to establish that the PAV, RPV, or MAV isolates of BYDV could infect them.