USHA KUMARI RATTAN
Post Doctoral Associate
University of Minnesota Dept. of Plant Pathology & Northwest Research and Outreach Center, Crookston
Crookston, Minnesota, United States
Ashok K. Chanda
Associate Professor & Extension Sugarbeet Pathologist
University of Minnesota - Twin Cities
Crookston, MN, USA
Melvin Bolton, PhD
Research Plant Pathologist
USDA-Agricultural Research Service, Sugar beet Research Unit, Fargo, ND 58102
Fargo, North Dakota, United States
Vanitharani Ramachandran
Research Plant Pathologist
USDA-ARS
Fargo, North Dakota, United States
Rhizomania is a devastating viral disease of sugarbeet caused by beet necrotic yellow vein virus (BNYVV). The virus is transmitted by Polymyxa betae, a soil-borne organism. The disease is managed primarily through genetic resistance by incorporating Rz1, Rz2 and other genes in commercial cultivars. Recent survey for rhizomania disease revealed the presence of BNYVV and rhizomania disease symptoms in several sugarbeet growing areas in the United States. In this study, we compared the infectious nature of BNYVV isolates that are obtained from the surveys to understand the functional relevance of nucleotide variations on the viral genome. We constructed two different types of infectious clones of RNA1, RNA2, RNA3, and RNA4 of BNYVV that are compatible for agrobacterium-mediated and RNA-based inoculation methods. In addition, visual markers such as EGFP and YFP were incorporated in the infectious clones to determine localization in the host. The results of ongoing inoculation methods on viral infectivity will be discussed. These methods will be useful for screening rhizomania resistance-breaking and varietal selection for improved rhizomania disease management.