Identity, Prevalence, and Distribution of Viral Diseases of Winter Wheat in New York in 1988 and 1989. N. R. Miller, Former Graduate Research Assistant, Department of Plant Pathology, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853. G. C. Bergstrom, and S. M. Gray. Associate Professor, Department of Plant Pathology, and Assistant Professor, Agricultural Research Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Department of Plant Pathology, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853. Plant Dis. 75:1105-1109. Accepted for publication 24 April 1991. Copyright 1991 The American Phytopathological Society. DOI: 10.1094/PD-75-1105.

In 1988 and 1989, 112 winter wheat (Triticum aestivum) fields from the major wheat-producing counties of New York were surveyed systematically for the presence of viral pathogens. Forty plants were sampled from each field at each of two growth stages and assayed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for wheat spindle streak mosaic virus (WSSMV), barley yellow dwarf virus (BYDV), soilborne wheat mosaic virus (SBWMV), and wheat streak mosaic virus (WSMV). WSSMV and BYDV were widespread in winter wheat in New York in 1988 and 1989. WSSMV was detected at incidence levels ranging from 0 to 100% of plants infected and was determined to be the principal cause of early spring yellowing of winter wheat in New York in these years. The cultivar Geneva consistently incurred a low incidence of WSSMV infection. BYDV was detected at incidence levels ranging from 0 to 18% of plants infected and, in 1988, a significant negative correlation was found between BYDV incidence and date of planting. WSMV, a virus not previously reported in the state, was detected in several fields at less than 0.5% incidence in both years. SBWMV was not detected in any fields surveyed despite environmental conditions conducive to this disease.