Curly Top Survey in the Western United States

• Published in: Phytopathology Vol. 98; no. 11; pp. 1212 - 1217
• Main Authors: Strausbaugh, C.A, Wintermantel, W.M, Gillen, A.M, Eujayl, I.A
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: St. Paul, MN American Phytopathological Society 01.11.2008
• Subjects: Beet curly top virus; Beet mild curly top virus; Beet severe curly top virus; Beta vulgaris; Beta vulgaris - virology; Biological and medical sciences; Circulifer tenellus; Curtovirus; DNA, Viral - chemistry; DNA, Viral - genetics; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Geminiviridae - classification; Geminiviridae - genetics; Geminiviridae - isolation & purification; geographical distribution; Molecular Sequence Data; pathogen identification; Phylogeny; Phytopathology. Animal pests. Plant and forest protection; Plant Diseases - virology; plant diseases and disorders; Plant Leaves - virology; plant viruses; Plant viruses and viroids; Polymerase Chain Reaction; sequence analysis; Sequence Analysis, DNA; surveys; United States; Viral Proteins - genetics; Western United States; United States; North America; America; Microbiology; Samplings; Genetic diversity; Identification; Species specificity; Phylogeny; Protein; Strain; Virus; Curtovirus; Polymerase chain reaction; Resistance; Species diversity; Gene; Beet curly top virus; Host range; Isolate; Geminiviridae
• ISSN: 0031-949X; 1943-7684
• DOI: 10.1094/PHYTO-98-11-1212

Curly top in sugar beet continues to be a challenging disease to control in the western United States. To aid in development of host resistance and management options, the curtovirus species composition was investigated by sampling 246 commercial fields along with nursery and field trials in the western United States. DNA was isolated from leaf samples and the species were identified using species-specific polymerase chain reaction primers for the C1 gene. Amplicons from 79 isolates were also sequenced to confirm identifications. Beet severe curly top virus (BSCTV) and Beet mild curly top virus (BMCTV) were widely distributed throughout the western United States, while only a few isolates of Beet curly top virus (BCTV) were found. In phylogenetic analysis, BSCTV, BMCTV, and BCTV isolates formed distinct groups in the dendrogram. Seven isolates not amplifiable with species-specific primers did amplify with curly top coat protein primers, indicating novel curtovirus species or strains may be present. Given the wide host range of the viruses responsible for curly top, frequent co-infections, and genetic diversity within and among species, establishing better host resistance, and controlling curly top will continue to be a challenge.