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Disease Note. Wheat Spindle Streak Mosaic Virus in Texas. R. W. Toler, Department of Plant Pathology and Microbiology, Texas A&M University, College Station 77843. L. W. Barnes, Extension Plant Pathologist, Texas A&M University, College Station 77843. Plant Dis. 73:938. Accepted for publication 18 July 1989. Copyright 1989 The American Phytopathological Society. DOI: 10.1094/PD-73-0938A. Wheat spindle streak mosaic virus is a constraint to winter wheat
production, particularly in the northwest portion of Texas, where most
of the hard red winter wheat is produced. Virus like symptoms on
hard red winter wheat were first observed near Amarillo, Texas, in
1988. Symptoms appeared in early spring and disappeared as temperatures
increased. Naturally infected wheat plants displayed symptoms
typical of wheat spindle streak mosaic virus (WSSMV) infection,
including chlorosis, mottling, and streaking (1). Immunosorbent
electron microscopy (ISEM) of symptomatic leaf tissue revealed
extremely long (1,200-1,900 nm) flexuous rods, and pinwheel
inclusions were observed in fixed tissue. The virus reacted positively
to WSSMV antiserum (supplied by S. A. Lommel, Kansas State
University) using ISEM (2). The samples were negative when assayed
by ISEM for wheat streak mosaic virus. The virus was identified as
WSSMV by symptoms, serology, and electron microscopy and was
found in wheat from Potter, Castro, and Bailey counties. Cultivars
observed to be infected included Sage, TAM 101, and Hawk. This
is the first report of WSSMV in Texas, where 3.2 million acres of
wheat were harvested in 1988. |