Wheat Streak Mosaic Virus: Increased Yields of Purified Virus from Corn. J. K. Uyemoto, Department of Plant Pathology, Kansas State University, Agricultural Experiment Station, Manhattan 66506. M. W. Ferguson, Department of Plant Pathology, Kansas State University, Agricultural Experiment Station, Manhattan 66506. Plant Dis. 64:460-462. Copyright 1980 American Phytopathological Society. DOI: 10.1094/PD-64-460.

A wheat streak mosaic virus isolate from corn (WSMV-C) and another from wheat (WSMV-W) were easily purified and yielded more virus particles from infected corn (Zea mays) than from infected wheat (Triticum aestivum) plants. Tissue was triturated in phosphate buffer containing 2-mercaptoethanol, and the extract was clarified with chloroform and given differential centrifugation. Partially purified preparations were further subjected to sucrose density-gradient centrifugation or zone electrophoresis. Greater yields of both isolates were obtained consistently from corn, as evidenced by relative sizes of virus bands in density-gradient columns and by differences in numbers of virus particles observed by electron microscopy. Antiserum prepared to WSMV-C and tested in enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was reactive with homologous virus, with crude preparations containing WSMV type strain, and with other wheat and corn isolates.