Characterization of a novel potyvirus isolated from maize in Israel

A potyvirus (proposed name of Zea mosaic virus [ZeMV]) isolated from maize in Israel was analyzed by serology, sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide g el electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) of capsid proteins, symptomatology, and seque ncing. Parts of the nuclear inclusion b, coat protein, and 3' regions were sequenced; the amino acid sequence of ZeMV capsid was determined by time-of -flight mass spectrometry (TOFMS). The results of these analyses were compa red with those of similar analyses of the following potyviruses: Maize dwar f mosaic virus (MDMV), Sugarcane mosaic virus strain MDB (SCMV-MDB), Johnso ngrass mosaic virus (JGMV), Sorghum mosaic virus (SrMV), and an isolate of MDMV from Israel. Indirect enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay using ZeMV ant iserum detected only ZeMV, and reciprocal tests using MDMV, JGMV, or SrMV a ntisera failed to detect ZeMV. ZeMV cross-reacted weakly when SCMV-MDB anti serum was used. The mass of ZeMV capsid was determined to be 36,810 Da by S DS-PAGE and 34,216 Da by TOFMS. The ZeMV systemically infected johnsongrass (Sorghum halepense), but did not infect oat (Avena sativa), pearl millet ( Pennisetum glaucum), barley (Hordeum vulgare), or rye (Secale cereale). Nec rosis was caused in 19 sorghum lines by SrMV, in 15 by ZeMV, in 14 by MDMV, and in 5 by JGMV and SCMV-MDB. The nucleic acid and amino acid sequences o f ZeMV clearly showed that it is not a strain of JGMV, MDMV, SCMV, or SrMV.