Serological Characterization of Wheat Streak Mosaic Virus Isolates. J. R. Montana, former Graduate Student; Department of Plant Pathology, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater 74078. R. M. Hunger, Professor, and J. L. Sherwood, Professor, Department of Plant Pathology, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater 74078. Plant Dis. 80:1239-1244. Accepted for publication 18 July 1996. Copy right 1996 The American Phytopathological Society. DOI: 10.1094/PD-80-1239.

Wheat streak mosaic (WSM) is a destructive disease of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) caused by wheat streak mosaic rymovirus (WSMV). Serological assays are commonly used to detect WSMV using polyclonal antibodies (PAbs) or monoclonal antibodies (MAbs). Wheat suspected to be infected with WSMV did not react with MAbs made to the Oklahoma Stale University (OSU) isolate of WSMV, but did react to PAbs made to the OSU isolate. The differences among six additional isolates of WSMV were determined using cnz.ymc-linkcd immunosorbent assay (ELISA), Western blot, protein fingerprinting, and serological specific electron microscopy. Results indicate the existence of serologically distinct strains of WSMV. This finding is important in detecting WSMV, in breeding for resistance to WSM, and in investigating the epidemiology of WSM.