Bean Yellow Mosaic Virus Isolate That Infects Peanut (Arachis hypogaea). D. C. Bays, Former Postdoctoral Associate, Department of Plant Pathology, Georgia Experiment Station, Experiment 30212. J. W. Demski, Associate Professor, Department of Plant Pathology, Georgia Experiment Station, Experiment 30212. Plant Dis. 70:667-669. Accepted for publication 30 December 1985. Copyright 1986 The American Phytopathological Society. DOI: 10.1094/PD-70-667.

A virus isolate (T-1) recovered from arrowleaf clover (Trifolium vesiculosum) in the field was found to infect peanut (Arachis hypogaea) under greenhouse conditions. In peanut, initial symptoms were chlorotic rings and spots. After 2–3 wk, these symptoms faded and were no longer evident. Flexuous rod-shaped particles were observed under an electron microscope with leaf-dip preparations of infected peanut tissue. The virus was mechanically transmissible and was transmitted in a nonpersistent manner by the cowpea aphid (Aphis craccivora). Crystalline inclusions were observed in the cytoplasm and nuclei of infected peanut plants. No serological relationship was found to either of the potyviruses that commonly infect peanut (peanut mottle virus and peanut stripe virus). A strong serological reaction was obtained in enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays against clover yellow vein (CYVV Pratt) and bean yellow mosaic viruses (BYMV 204-1), two potyviruses not previously reported to infect peanut. Additional physical characteristics demonstrated that this virus was an isolate of BYMV. In a survey of commercial peanut fields in Georgia, BYMV was found to naturally infect peanuts in only one field in one of 12 counties surveyed.