Identification of ryegrass mosaic rymovirus in Poaceae plants

Abstract

For the first time annual ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum Lam.), perennial ryegrass (L. perenne L.), meadow fescue (Festuca pratensis Huds.) and Festulolium loliaceum (Huds.) P. Fourn. (Festuca pratensis L. × Lolium perenne L.) showing symptoms of mosaic spotting, chlorotic and necrotic streaks on leaves and stems were collected at the Plant Breeding Centre of Lithuanian Institute of Agriculture and also at the Vilnius State Plant Varieties Testing Station in 2002. Virus infection was observed also in the season next year in this place and in other locations of Vilnius and Kaunas districts. Virus isolates were investigated by the methods of test-plants, electron microscopy (EM), serology, double antibody sandwich enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (DAS-ELISA) and reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). The identification of the virus was based on the results of symptomology on host-plants, transmission of viral infection by mechanical inoculation to test plants, the morphology of virus particles filaments (about 700 nm long), positive reaction in DAS-ELISA. Ryegrass mosaic rymovirus (RGMV) identification was confirmed also by the RT-PCR technique. Keywords: the family Poaceae, identification, DAS-ELISA, RT-PCR, ryegrass mosaic virus