New records on the occurrence of beet western yellows virus in Australia, New Zealand and Mexico

Abstract

An isolate of beet western yellows virus (BWYV) from lettuce in Tasmania was propagated in shepherd's purse, purified, and used to produce an antiserum in a rabbit. The lettuce isolate and the antiserum to it reacted similarly to the Californian type isolate from radish and its antiserum in double antibody sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (DAS-ELISA). The Tasmanian DAS-ELISA system was used to confirm the presence of BWYV in a range of plant species from the southern mainland states of Australia, from the North Island of New Zealand and from central Mexico. Leaf tissue containing BWYV remained serologically reactive for long periods after the tissue was desiccated either by freeze-drying, air-drying or drying over silica gel. Bean leaf roll, potato leaf roll and soybean dwarf viruses were clearly distinct from BWYV and from each other in DAS-ELISA.