Wheat yellow leaf virus
Encyclopedia
Wheat yellow leaf virus (WYLV) is a wheat
(Triticum spp. L.), barley
(Hordeum vulgare L.), rye
(Secale cereale M.Bieb.), and oat
(Avena sativa L.) pathogenic virus of the family Closteroviridae
. WYLV virions are 1600-1850 nm in length and 10 nm in diameter. The virus, like other members of its genus, is transmitted by aphids. Identified vectors include Rhopalosiphum padi L. and R. maidis Fitch. (Aphididae
). The virus has been identified in crop plants in Japan, China, and Italy. Native host plants include Italian ryegrass
(Lolium multiflorum Lam.) in Europe and Agropyron tsukushiense var. transiens Ohwi
in Japan. The virus proliferates in the phloem
of its host plants, interfering with the plant's ability to produce sufficient chlorophyll
(Chlorosis), causing the leaves to yellow and the plant to die.
Wheat
Wheat is a cereal grain, originally from the Levant region of the Near East, but now cultivated worldwide. In 2007 world production of wheat was 607 million tons, making it the third most-produced cereal after maize and rice...
(Triticum spp. L.), barley
Barley
Barley is a major cereal grain, a member of the grass family. It serves as a major animal fodder, as a base malt for beer and certain distilled beverages, and as a component of various health foods...
(Hordeum vulgare L.), rye
Rye
Rye is a grass grown extensively as a grain and as a forage crop. It is a member of the wheat tribe and is closely related to barley and wheat. Rye grain is used for flour, rye bread, rye beer, some whiskeys, some vodkas, and animal fodder...
(Secale cereale M.Bieb.), and oat
Oat
The common oat is a species of cereal grain grown for its seed, which is known by the same name . While oats are suitable for human consumption as oatmeal and rolled oats, one of the most common uses is as livestock feed...
(Avena sativa L.) pathogenic virus of the family Closteroviridae
Closteroviridae
The Closteroviridae are a family of viruses plant viruses with filamentous, helically constructed particles showing distinct cross-banding and varying in length from 650 nanometers to over 2000 nm. The genome is a single strand of positive sense RNA whose size varies from 13 - 19...
. WYLV virions are 1600-1850 nm in length and 10 nm in diameter. The virus, like other members of its genus, is transmitted by aphids. Identified vectors include Rhopalosiphum padi L. and R. maidis Fitch. (Aphididae
Aphididae
Aphididae is a very large insect family in the aphid superfamily , of the order Hemiptera. There are several thousand species in this family, many of which are well known for being serious plant pests...
). The virus has been identified in crop plants in Japan, China, and Italy. Native host plants include Italian ryegrass
Ryegrass
Ryegrass is a genus of nine species of tufted grasses in the Pooideae subfamily of the Poaceae family. Also called tares , these plants are native to Europe, Asia and northern Africa, but are...
(Lolium multiflorum Lam.) in Europe and Agropyron tsukushiense var. transiens Ohwi
Agropyron
Agropyron is a genus of grasses , native to Europe and Asia. Species in the genus are commonly referred to as crested-wheat grasses...
in Japan. The virus proliferates in the phloem
Phloem
In vascular plants, phloem is the living tissue that carries organic nutrients , in particular, glucose, a sugar, to all parts of the plant where needed. In trees, the phloem is the innermost layer of the bark, hence the name, derived from the Greek word "bark"...
of its host plants, interfering with the plant's ability to produce sufficient chlorophyll
Chlorophyll
Chlorophyll is a green pigment found in almost all plants, algae, and cyanobacteria. Its name is derived from the Greek words χλωρος, chloros and φύλλον, phyllon . Chlorophyll is an extremely important biomolecule, critical in photosynthesis, which allows plants to obtain energy from light...
(Chlorosis), causing the leaves to yellow and the plant to die.