Annals of Applied Biology (2015) 166, 311-320

M.A. Achon, L. Serrano, J. Sabate and C. Porta (2015)
Understanding the epidemiological factors that intensify the incidence of maize rough dwarf disease in Spain
Annals of Applied Biology 166 (2), 311-320
Abstract: Currently the dominant limiting factor to maize production in Spain is caused by Maize rough dwarf virus (MRDV). This study aimed to evaluate the epidemiology factors involved in the increased incidence of MRD disease in Spain. We examined the maize planthopper dynamics and MRDV incidence throughout two maize growing seasons in six locations using a set of eight maize varieties: four Bt-varieties (BT-var) and their isogenic counterparts (NBT-var). Our results indicate that MRDV incidence is greatly influenced by the first colonisation of maize by Laodelphax striatellus but not by Metadelphax propinqua and by the susceptibility of the maize varieties. No significant differences were observed between the BT-var and NBT-var, although BT-var exhibited 1% less MRDV infection than NBT-var. Cultivated wheat and Lolium perenne were found for the first time to be natural hosts of MRDV. However, wheat does not seem to be a preferred host for the development of L. striatellus. Partial sequencing of genome segments S1–S9 and full sequencing of segment S10 revealed that the Spanish MRDV isolate shares nucleotide identities ranging from 93% to 97% with the available sequences of segments S7–S10 of the Italian MRDV isolate. The highest nucleotide identities with other fijiviruses were observed with Rice black-streaked dwarf virus. Molecular variability analysis of MRDV isolates collected over a ten years period showed high nucleotide (>97%) and amino sequence identities (>99%) on segment S10, suggesting a low temporal variability.
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Link to article at publishers website
Database assignments for author(s): María Ángeles Achon

Research topic(s) for pests/diseases/weeds:
population dynamics/ epidemiology
transmission/dispersal of plant diseases

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Pest and/or beneficial records:

Beneficial	Pest/Disease/Weed	Crop/Product	Country	Quarant.
	Laodelphax striatellus	Maize/corn (Zea mays)	Spain (continental)
	Metadelphax propinqua	Maize/corn (Zea mays)	Spain (continental)
	Maize rough dwarf virus	Maize/corn (Zea mays)	Spain (continental)
	Maize rough dwarf virus	Wheat (Triticum)	Spain (continental)