An Experimental Host Range for Triticum mosaic virus

Triticum mosaic virus (TriMV) is a newly discovered virus isolated from wheat (Triticum aestivum). This study was conducted to determine an experimental host range for TriMV and identify species that could serve as differential hosts for isolating TriMV from Wheat streak mosaic virus (WSMV). Plants tested were mechanically inoculated with the 06-123 isolate of TriMV or the Sidney 81 isolate of WSMV. Some plants were analyzed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) using antibodies of TriMV and WSMV. Plants infected with TriMV always produced mosaic symptoms and only extracts of symptomatic plants reacted with antibodies of TriMV. Maize is not a host for TriMV but barley, oat, rye, and triticale are hosts of TriMV. Certain barley and triticale accessions are hosts for TriMV but not WSMV. These plants can be used in combination with maize to separate WSMV and TriMV in plants infected by both viruses. We also showed that 8 wild grass species were susceptible to TriMV and 25 were not. All of the grasses susceptible to infection with TriMV have been reported as susceptible to infection with WSMV. Because of their growth habits, these plant species would be less desirable for use as differential hosts than maize, barley, and triticale.