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Funded Project |
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Funding Program:
Enhancement Grants - Special Projects |
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Project Title:
Building Diagnostic Capacity for Detection of Plant Viruses |
Project Directors (PDs):
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Lead State: FL Lead Organization: University of Florida Board of Trustees |
| Undesignated Funding: $25,000 |
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Start Date: Jul-01-2009 End Date: Jun-30-2010 |
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No-Cost Extension Date: Aug-01-2010 |
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Pests Involved: Viruses |
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Summary:
There are more than 1,000 taxonomically approved species of plant viruses and hundreds of tentative species (Fauquet et al 2005) and the number of plant viruses is increasing rapidly. In total these viruses cause thousands of diseases. The diagnostic capacity for rapid and accurate detection of these plant viruses is a huge problem for diagnostic clinics in the US and the world while the need for their detection only increases each year. Detection is needed for several reasons. Plant viruses cause significant losses to crop production in the southern U.S. as in many other areas with mild winters (reviewed by Hull 2002). Although avoidance is the best management strategy, mitigation of losses during the cropping season is possible through rapid and accurate diagnosis so that appropriate vector populations can be reduced or appropriate cultural practices can be implemented. However diagnostic clinics in the US are not able to address this need. In addition, due to international trade and other changes in cropping practices, new plant viruses are emerging at a very rapid pace. At the same time, the number of virologists available to diagnosis new viruses is diminishing as the emphasis in research has shifted away from virus characterization to plant molecular biology and other areas of molecular biology. In addition, international trade in plants and plant parts is relying more and more on disease-free certification.
Southern region PMSPs for citrus, cucurbits, and tomato describe viruses in a wide range of genera including Crinivirus (Closteroviridae), Potyvirus (Potyviridae), Ophiovirus, Cucumovirus and Ilarvirus (Bromoviridae), and Comovirus (Comoviridae) as well as viroids in the genus, Hostuviroid. We plan to investigate the development of PCR protocols for three of these major genera: Crinivirus, Begomovirus, and Potyvirus. Two of these, Crinivirus and Potyvirus, are mentioned specifically as high-priority disease issues in Southern Region PMSPs for tomato, cucurbit, and citrus, and North-central IPM PMSPs for potatoes (Potato virus Y), soybeans (Soybean mosaic virus), wheat (Wheat streak mosaic virus), and sweet corn (Maize dwarf mosaic virus) . Viruses in the Begomovirus and Cucumovirus genera are mentioned as high priorities in North-Central IPM PMSPs (edible legumes). The Tobamovirus genus (Togaviridae) includes four subgroups; the solanaceous, brassicas, cucurbits and malvaceous-infecting tobamoviruses. The Begomovirus genus, the largest genus of plant viruses, is responsible for the whitefly-vectored infection of hundreds of plant species, including such important southern crops as tomatoes, peppers, beans, squash, melon, cassava, collards, cabbage, tobacco, and cotton. Diagnostic clinics are the growers mainstay for the rapid and accurate identification of causal agents for new and known diseases. While most pathogen groups are addressed very well (fungi, bacteria, nematodes) diagnosis of viral etiologies is very inadequate. In addition, diagnositic clinics are positioned to be front-line for the recognition of new diseases and new viruses. However there is an acute lack of appropriate assays for new and emerging viruses at this time. Our goal is to produce genus-specific PCR assays that can be used to detect most if not all viruses within each of three major virus genera. This approach is already being done on a commercial level, but the costs of submitting extension samples to private companies are too high to make this a reasonable approach for diagnostic clinics. We have selected three genera for demonstrating the usefulness of this approach. These are genera in which the Polston laboratory has experience and can be confident of achieving the goals within the confines of the budget and timeline. In addition, genera specific assays to these three genera would be very useful for diagnostic clinics. Begomovirus and Crinivirus are considered emerging pathogens, and clinics are likely to discover new viruses within these two genera. Viruses within the Potyvirus and are widespread and frequently encountered. Begomovirus and Potyvirus are the two largest plant genera. Together just these two genera account for approximately 25% of all described plant viruses. Assays to these three genera will be useful and a strong start to giving diagnostic clinics the ability to detect and diagnose diseases caused by viruses. Objectives: 1.Develop PCR reagents that will detect viruses in three major plant virus genera from three different virus families 2.Produce a set of PCR protocols for detection of viruses in three major plant virus genera from three different virus families 3.Develop a set of positive controls that can be maintained by the diagnostic clinics and maintained indefinitely for use in PCR 4.Disseminate the information to SPDN and IPM affiliates 5.Leverage project outputs into a grant proposal to fund diagnostic training workshops to disseminate reagents and training in specific application of the protocols. |
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