Serological and molecular detection of wheat streak mosaic virus (WSMV) in cereal fields of Golestan province, Northern Iran

In recent years, symptoms of a viral disease including streak mosaic, leaf blade malformation, and thickness (scrawniness) of raceme have been observed in the vast areas of grain fields in Golestan province. In order to identify the causes of this disease, detection of wheat streak mosaic virus (WSMV) in cultivated hosts including wheat, dominant weeds of fields involving barnyardgrass (Echinochloa crus-galli L.), johnsongrass (Sorghum halepense), Setaria glauca, Digitaria sanguinalis, Bromus spp., and Echinochloa colonum is done with mentioned symptoms. In the agricultural year of 2007, 700 samples of these hosts in the fields of the province, suspected of the disease, were prepared. These Samples were analyzed by indirect ELISA using WSMV polyclonal antiserum and a number of the infected samples were tested by PCR using WSMV specific primers involving RCF1, WSM1, WSMF10 and WSMF13 that were prepared from the 5' area of the virus’s protein capsid. Results of indirect ELISA confirmed the presence of this virus in the Digitaria sanguinalis and Echinochloa colonum, for first time. Positive reactions in the RT-PCR test with WSMV specific primers also showed the presence of this virus in only two hosts, Digitaria sanguinalis and Echinochloa colonum. We have no information about the scope of the damage in the fields of the province. In this research although in some cases wheat fields and wild weed in the fields and neighboring gardens showed the symptoms including mosaic, leaf curl, dwarfing and decrease of the growth, but the presence of this virus has not been detected in most cases. Investigation to detect the virus in native hosts involving wheat is continued in this province.