Anti-PSbMV polyclonal antibody

Seed transmission of an isolate of pea seed-borne mosaic virus (PSbMV) in several pea genotypes has been studied. Cross-pollination experiments showed that pollen transmission of PSbMV did not occur and accordingly, virus was not detected in pollen grains by ELISA or electron microscopy. Comparative studies between two pea cultivars, one with a high incidence of seed transmission and one with none, showed that PSbMV infected the floral tissues (sepals, petals, anther and carpel) of both cultivars, but was not detected in ovules prior to fertilization. Virus was detected equally well in seed coats of the progeny in both cultivars. Analysis of virus incidence and concentration in pea seeds of different developmental stages demonstrated that in the cultivar with a high incidence of seed transmission, PSbMV directly invaded immature embryos, multiplied in the embryonic tissues and persisted during seed maturation. In contrast, the cultivar without seed transmission did not show invasion of immature embryos by the virus; there was no evidence for virus multiplication or persistence during embryo development and seed maturation. Hence seed transmission of PSbMV resulted from direct invasion of immature pea embryos by the virus and the block to seed transmission in the non-permissive cultivar probably occurred at this step.

A virus survey was conducted during the spring and autumn of 2001 and 2002 to determine the presence, prevalence and distribution in Spain of the viruses that are most commonly found infecting lettuce and Brassica worldwide. Crop plants showing virus symptoms from the principal lettuce and Brassica-growing regions of Spain, and some samples of the annual and perennial flora nearby, were tested by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays using specific commercial antibodies against the following viruses: Alfalfa mosaic virus (AMY), Broad bean wilt virus 1 (BBWV-1), Beet western yellows virus (BWYV), Cauliflower mosaic virus (CaMV), Cucumber mosaic virus (CMV), Lettuce mosaic virus (LMV), Pea seed-borne mosaic virus (PSbMV), Turnip mosaic virus (TuMV) and Tomato spotted wilt virus (TSWV). Samples were also tested with a Potyvirus genus antibody. Virus incidence was much lower in spring than in autumn, especially in 2001. In spring 2002, CMV and LMV were the most prevalent viruses in lettuce, while CaMV was the most important virus present in Brassica crops grown in Navarra, followed by CMV and BWYV. In the autumn, the spectrum of viruses was different; potyviruses were widespread in lettuce grown in Madrid, but TSWV and BWYV were predominant in the Murcia region. The prevalent Potyvirus detected in lettuce fields was LMV, but none of the samples collected were positive for PSbMV or TuMV. In Brassica crops, TSWV was the most abundant in autumn-sown crops, especially in the Navarra region. All of the viruses present in lettuce and Brassica were also frequently detected in their associated natural vegetation at the same time, suggesting that they probably play an important role as virus reservoirs. Sonchus spp. were particularly common and were frequently infected with CMV, LMV and BWYV. Another common species, Chenopodium album, was often infected with TSWV and BWYV. Multiple infections were common, especially in non-crop plants, and the most common combination was BWYV and TSWV. The role of weeds in the epidemiology of viruses that infect lettuce and Brassica crops in Spain is discussed.