Response of Annual and Perennial Teosintes (Zea) to Six Maize Viruses. L. R. Nault, Professor of Entomology, Ohio Agricultural Research and Development Center, Wooster 44691. D. T. Gordon, Professor of Plant Pathology, Ohio Agricultural Research and Development Center, Wooster 44691; V. D. Damsteegt, Research Plant Pathologist, USDA Plant Disease Research Laboratory, Frederick, MD 21701; and H. H. Iltis, Professor of Botany, University of Wisconsin, Madison 53706. Plant Dis. 66:61-62. Accepted for publication 19 May 1981. Copyright 1982 American Phytopathological Society. DOI: 10.1094/PD-66-61.

Teosinte (Zea) species and subspecies were tested for susceptibility to maize dwarf mosaic virus strains A and B, maize chlorotic dwarf virus, maize chlorotic mottle virus, maize stripe virus, and maize streak virus. The annual teosintes, Z. mexicana subspecies mexicana and parviglumis and Z. luxurians, were susceptible to all viruses. The diploid perennial teosinte, Z. diploperennis, was immune to maize chlorotic dwarf, maize chlorotic mottle, and maize streak viruses, slightly susceptible to maize dwarf mosaic virus strain B and maize stripe virus, and susceptible to maize dwarf mosaic virus strain A. The tetraploid perennial teosinte Z. perennis was susceptible only to maize stripe virus. Because Z. diploperennis is interfertile with Z. mays, it offers potential for contributing to maize genes for immunity or tolerance to virus diseases.

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