USE OF ANTISERUM TO A NEW-YORK ISOLATE OF WHEAT SPINDLE STREAK MOSAIC-VIRUS TO DETECT RELATED BYMOVIRUSES FROM NORTH-AMERICA, EUROPE, AND ASIA

Wheat spindle streak mosaic bymovirus (WSSMV) is a widespread and damaging pathogen of winter wheat in North America. The diagnosis of this viral disease has relied primarily on the observation of transient symptoms that may be confused with other biotic and abiotic stresses. Virus was purified from field-infected wheat plants grown in New York and a polyclonal antiserum was produced that by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay detected as little as 0.25 ng WSSMV/mu L leaf or root sap. The antiserum reacted to bymoviruses from North America, Europe, and Asia, including isolates of WSSMV, wheat yellow mosaic virus, and barley yellow mosaic virus, but did not detect oat mosaic virus or barley mild mosaic virus. This corroborates previous findings on serological relationships within the bymovirus group. The antiserum did not react with other cereal viruses tested, including soilborne wheat mosaic furovirus, wheat streak mosaic rymovirus, and barley yellow dwarf luteovirus. The availability of this antiserum will facilitate detection of bymoviruses and enhance research on biology, epidemiology, and management of the diseases caused by these fungal-vectored viruses.