Plant Viruses Online   

Descriptions and Lists from the VIDE Database

Bermuda grass etched-line marafivirus

Index

• Nomenclature
• Host range, transmission and symptoms
• Physical and biochemical properties
• Taxonomy and relationships
• Comments and References

Data collated by A.A Brunt and B.E.L. Lockhart, 1987.

Nomenclature

Acronym

BELV

ICTV decimal code

41.0.1.0.002

Host range and symptoms

Natural host range and symptoms

Symptoms persist and vary seasonally.
• Cynodon dactylon - white etched lines and spots in leaves; plants stunted.
• Sorghum halepense - chlorotic streaks in leaves.

Transmission

Transmitted by a vector; an insect; Aconurella prolixa; Cicadellidae. Transmitted in a persistent manner. Virus multiplies in the vector; not transmitted by mechanical inoculation; not transmitted by seed.

Ecology and control

Studies reported by Lockhart et al. (1985).

Geographical distribution

Spreads in Morocco.

Experimental host range

Few (<3) families susceptible. Experimentally infected plants mostly show streaks.

Diagnostically susceptible host species and symptoms

• Avena sativa, Cynodon dactylon, Triticum durum, Zea mays, Sorghum bicolor, S. halepense - chlorotic spots and lines.

Diagnostically insusceptible host species

Agrostis alba, Elytrigia repens, Hordeum vulgare, Lolium perenne, Saccharum officinarum, Setaria viridis.

Maintenance and propagation hosts

Cynodon dactylon, Zea mays.

Assay hosts (Local lesions or Whole plants)

Cynodon dactylon (W), Zea mays (W).

Susceptible host species

• Avena sativa
• Bromus inermis
• Cynodon dactylon
• Festuca arundinacea
• Sorghum bicolor
• Sorghum halepense
• Triticum durum
• Zea mays

Insusceptible host species

• Agrostis alba
• Echinochloa crus-galli
• Elytrigia repens
• Hordeum vulgare
• Lolium perenne
• Panicum dichotomiflorum
• Phalaris arundinacea
• Saccharum officinarum
• Secale cereale
• Setaria viridis

Families containing susceptible hosts

• Gramineae (8/18)

Families containing insusceptible hosts

• Gramineae (10/18)

Sources of host-range data

Lockhart et al. (1985).

Physical and biochemical properties

Properties of particles in sap

Leaf sap contains many virions.

Purification method

Lockhart et al. (1985).

Particle morphology

Virions isometric; not enveloped; c. 30 nm in diameter; rounded in profile; with a conspicuous capsomere arrangement.

Physical properties

Two sedimenting components in purified preparations; sedimentation coefficient of the fastest 119 S ((B)); of the other(s) 57 S ((T)). Density 1.44 g cm^-3 in CsCl ((B)), or 1.29 g cm^-3 in CsCl ((T)). Density in Cs₂SO₄ 1.40 g/ml (B) and 1.26 g/ml (T). A₂₆₀/A₂₈₀ ratio 1.53 (B), or 0.88 (T).

Biochemical properties

Genome consists of RNA; single-stranded; linear. Total genome size 7.5 kb. Genome unipartite; largest (or only) genome part 7.5 kb. Genomic nucleic acid isolated by Lockhart: use standard phenol-SDS procedure.

Features of proteins

Virion protein(s) one; M_r 26500; coat protein. Virion proteins not glycosylated.

Replication

Replication does not depend on a helper virus.

Cytopathology

Virions found in leaves, mesophyll, epidermis, vascular parenchyma and all parts of the host plant; in cytoplasm and in cell vacuoles. Inclusions absent from infected cells.

Taxonomy and relationships

Marafivirus (the type species)

Virus(es) with serologically related virions

Maize rayado fino and oat blue dwarf viruses.

Comments and References

References

• Lockhart, B.E.L., Khaless, N., Lennon, A.M. and El Maataoui, M. (1985). Phytopathology 75: 1258.
• Khaless, N. (1988). M.Sc. Thesis, University of Minnesota, 53 pp.

Cite this publication as: Brunt, A.A., Crabtree, K., Dallwitz, M.J., Gibbs, A.J., Watson, L. and Zurcher, E.J. (eds.) (1996 onwards). `Plant Viruses Online: Descriptions and Lists from the VIDE Database. Version: 20^th August 1996.' URL http://biology.anu.edu.au/Groups/MES/vide/

Dallwitz (1980) and Dallwitz, Paine and Zurcher (1993) should also be cited.