Wheat streak mosaic virus

Genome structure

The WSMV is positive, linear, single-strand RNA (ssRNA). According to the International Committee on Taxonomy of virus, the complete genome of WSMV has 9384 nucleotides. The G+C content is 44%. The % coding is 97%. The sequence only codes for one long polypeptide.There are different strains. Some are milder than others.

Cell structure The virus is in group IV, family Potyviridae, genus Tritimovirus. The virus is simple in structure.

Characteristics of wheat cells that are infected with WSMV:

The wheat cell bears many inclusions in the cytoplasm. The nucleus is distorted in shape. The inclusions do not have any rigid shape. They are varied in appearance. The inclusions are involved with viral proteins. There is an increased reproduction rapidly in number of membranes and ribosome’s. As the infections go on and progress, the cells is twisted out of shape and the organelles are disintergrated

Other possible hosts for WSMV:

The virus not only attacks all sorts of wheat but also the other cereal plants. The other cereal plants are oeats, barley, rye, maize, millets and sorghum. Wild grass is also affected. If there cereal plants and wild grass are grown in very close distance to the infected wheat crop, they can catch the mites by wind and develop WSMV soon. However, young wheat is still the number one ranged from the favorite host of mite and WSMV. Mites and WSMV only attack the other cereal plants when the wheat crops are severe damaged, grown old, degraded in nutritional values

How to indentify the wheat infected with WSMV:

It’s hard to differentiate the normal, healthy wheat from the early infected wheat that hasn’t had any apparent, visible symptoms yet. Plant pathologists usually use electron microscope or perform Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay test (ELISA). These tests were conducted in the labs by entomologists and plant pathologists. In ELISA test, the sap of infected plants is collected in antivirus serum. The result of the test is then compared with the known sap with WSMV. The more similarities between the reference and unknown sap, the more likely the plant is infected with WSMV.