Variability in the Interactions between Arabidopsis thaliana Ecotypes and Oilseed Rape Mosaic Tobamovirus

Abstract

The responses of 116 ecotypes of Arabidopsis thaliana (L.) Heynh. were evaluated after inoculation with oilseed rape mosaic tobamovirus. Symptoms observed within each of the ecotypes were similar, allowing us to classify the ecotypes into five symptom groups based on stunting, abnormal flower or seed formation, and plant death. A relation between the severity of symptoms and ecotype flowering time was observed: late-flowering ecotypes developed more severe symptoms than early-flowering ones. All the symptomless ecotypes were studied under controlled environmental conditions. Two ecotypes, Wc-1 and An-1, showed resistance to ORMV infection in the form of absence of long-distance viral movement that was inoculum concentration-dependent.