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ARS Home » Plains Area » Lincoln, Nebraska » Wheat, Sorghum and Forage Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #413155
Research Project: Identification, Characterization, and Utilization of Priority Traits for the Genetic Improvement of Winter Wheat and Barley Germplasm Adapted to the Great Plains

Location: Wheat, Sorghum and Forage Research

Title: HC-pro cistron of triticum mosaic virus is a viral determinant of wheat curl mite transmission

Author
item SZYDIO, WIKTORIA - University Of Nebraska
item WOSULA, EVERLYNE - University Of Nebraska
item KNOELL, ELLIOT - University Of Nebraska
item HEIN, GARY - University Of Nebraska
item MONDAL, SHAONPIUS - University Of Nebraska
item Tatineni, Satyanarayana - Ts

Submitted to: Phytopathology
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 4/3/2024
Publication Date: 7/20/2024
Citation: Szydio, W., Wosula, E., Knoell, E., Hein, G.L., Mondal, S., Tatineni, S. 2024. HC-pro cistron of triticum mosaic virus is a viral determinant of wheat curl mite transmission. Phytopathology. 114:1672-1679. https://doi.org/10.1094/PHYTO-02-24-0073-R.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1094/PHYTO-02-24-0073-R

Interpretive Summary: Triticum mosaic virus (TriMV) is an economically important wheat virus in the Great Plains region of the USA. Wheat curl mites transmit TriMV from infected to healthy wheat in growers’ fields. The spread of TriMV in wheat fields can be prevented by blocking TriMV transmission by wheat curl mites. Effective transmission of viruses by insect vectors requires successful interaction between viral and insect vector proteins. Hence, disruption of these interactions will facilitate the prevention of virus spread through insect vectors. Identification of virus-encoded proteins involved in virus transmission by insect vectors is a prerequisite for examining interactions between viral and insect vector proteins. This study identified HC-Pro of TriMV as a viral determinant of wheat curl mite transmission of TriMV. These results will facilitate the identification of mite proteins involved in interactions with TriMV HC-Pro, and disruption of these interactions through RNA-interference technology would facilitate effective management of TriMV spread through wheat curl mites.

Technical Abstract: Triticum mosaic virus (TriMV; genus Poacevirus; family Potyviridae) is an economically important virus in the Great Plains region of the USA. TriMV is transmitted by wheat curl mite (Aceria tosichella Keifer) Type 2 genotype but not by Type 1. HC-Pro is a vector transmission determinant for several potyvirids, but the role of HC-Pro in TriMV transmission is unknown. In this study, we examined the requirement of HC-Pro cistron of TriMV for wheat curl mite (Type 2) transmission through deletion and point mutations and constructing TriMV chimeras with heterologous HC-Pros from other potyvirids. TriMV with complete deletion of HC-Pro failed to be transmitted by wheat curl mites at detectable levels. Furthermore, TriMV chimeras with heterologous HC-Pros from aphid-transmitted turnip mosaic virus and tobacco etch virus, or wheat curl mite-transmitted wheat streak mosaic virus, failed to be transmitted by wheat curl mites. These data suggest that heterologous HC-Pros did not complement TriMV for wheat curl mite transmission. A decreasing series of progressive nested in-frame deletions at the N-terminal region of HC-Pro comprising amino acids 3 to 125, 3 to 50, 3 to 25, 3 to 15, 3 to 8, and 3 and 4 abolished TriMV transmission by wheat curl mites. Additionally, mutation of conserved His20, Cys49, or Cys52 to Ala in HC-Pro abolished TriMV transmissibility by wheat curl mites. These data suggest that the N-terminal region of HC-Pro is crucial for TriMV transmission by wheat curl mites. Collectively, these data demonstrate that the HC-Pro cistron of TriMV is a viral determinant for wheat curl mite transmission.