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 dama ging pathogen of winter wheat in North America. The diagnosis of this viral disease has relied primarily on the observation of transient sym ptoms that may be confused with other biotic and abiotic stresses. Vir us was purified from field-infected wheat plants grown in New York and a polyclonal antiserum was produced that by enzyme-linked immunosorbe nt assay detected as little as 0.25 ng WSSMV/mu L leaf or root sap. Th e antiserum reacted to bymoviruses from North America, Europe, and Asi a, including isolates of WSSMV, wheat yellow mosaic virus, and barley yellow mosaic virus, but did not detect oat mosaic virus or barley mil d mosaic virus. This corroborates previous findings on serological rel ationships within the bymovirus group. The antiserum did not react wit h other cereal viruses tested, including soilborne wheat mosaic furovi rus, wheat streak mosaic rymovirus, and barley yellow dwarf luteovirus . The availability of this antiserum will facilitate detection of bymo viruses and enhance research on biology, epidemiology, and management of the diseases caused by these fungal-vectored viruses.