ABSTRACT

Imperata yellow mottle caused by Imperata yellow mottle virus (IYMV) of the genus Sobemovirus was first characterized on Imperata cylindrica and Zea mays in Burkina Faso. The disease has been reported in several localities of the country but its ecology and epidemiology are poorly known. In particular, only I. cylindrica and maize have been reported within IYMV host range. The aim of this study was to investigate the experimental host range of the virus. Mechanical inoculation of a mixture of four IYMV isolates to 18 plant species, including four crops (maize, rice, sorghum and pearl millet) and 14 wild grasses showed clear mottle symptoms in maize, sorghum and pearl millet and two wild grass species (Setaria verticillata and Rottboellia exaltata). Sym- ptom development was confirmed by Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and reverse transcription?polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Infection of crop species by IYMV depended on cultivars tested. Therefore, proportions of positive cultivars were 16/36 in maize, 4/10 in sorghum and 4/9 in pearl millet, respectively. Studies on virus-host interactions using individual virus isolates showed two pathogenic patterns. Three out of the four isolates tested infected all plant species and cultivars. In contrast, the fourth IYMV isolate could infect only one maize cultivar. These results expand the previously known host range of IYMV from two to five species, indicating a narrow host range. Among the new characterized host species, sorghum and pearl millet are important cereal crops. Therefore, Imperata yellow motte disease is a potential threat for the cereal crop production and its ecology and epidemiology should be thoroughly investigated.

Keywords:

IYMV, Sobemovirus, Host Range, Virus-Host Interactions

1. Introduction

Cogon grass (Imperata cylindrica), also known as kunai grass, blady grass, satintail, spear grass, sword grass or thatch grass, is a perennial grass species occurring worldwide in tropical and subtropical regions [1] [2] [3] . It is often considered as an invasive species and a serious wild weed which competes with crops such as cassava, maize, rice, sorghum, pearl millet for water and nutrients.

However, several beneficial uses of the plant have been reported. In particular, the leaves and the roots are commonly used in herbal medicine for the treatment of diseases and illnesses like snakebites, high blood pressure, and typhoid [4] [5] [6] . Diuretic and anti-cancer properties of I. cylindrica extracts were also reported [7] [8] .

In the early 2000, a new viral disease was reported on I. cylindrica in Burkina Faso [9] . Disease symptoms consisted of yellow mottling of the leaves. The causal agent was subsequently characterized as a sobemovirus named Imperata yellow mottle virus, acronym IYMV [10] . The virus was readily transmitted by mechanical inoculation to susceptible hosts. IYMV host range is poorly known. Under natural conditions, IYMV was only found in I. cylindrica and maize (Zea mays) in different parts of the country. Only itch grass (Rottboellia exaltata) was reported within the artificial host range [10] . Possibly, other cereal crops grown along with maize in the same environments are affected by the virus. Moreover, like I. cyclindrica, the virus may be hosted by other wild species. Knowledge of crops species and wild plant species hosting IYMV is necessary for assessing the virus agronomical importance as well as devising adequate control measures based on epidemiological characteristics and resistant or tolerant crop varieties.

In this paper, we assessed the susceptibility of several maize varieties to IYMV and studied the artificial host range mainly among cereal crops and wild graminaceous plant species. Knowledge of the artificial host range of the virus would ease the investigations on the natural host range.

2. Methods

2.1. Sources of Inoculum

Leaf samples of I. cylindrica showing typical yellow mottle symptoms were collected in different localities in Burkina Faso (Figure 1). Infection by IYMV was confirmed in leaf extracts by ELISA and RT-PCR tests against healthy leaves used as negative controls. Virus isolates included Bf4, Bz16, Lo9 and T2 and originated from the following respective localities: Banfora (lat: 10.680277; lon: −4.793233), Banzon (lat: 11.318989, lon: −4.8044071), Lomouroudougou (lat: 10.693140, lon :( −4.794290) and Tondogosso (lat: 11.41090, lon: −3.0092).

2.2. Mechanical Inoculation

Infected leaves from each isolate were macerated at a ratio of 1/10 (g/ml) in 0.01 M phosphate buffer, pH 7.0 and dusted with 600 mesh carborundum. Leaf extracts were rubbed onto the leaves of maize cv. FBC6 seedlings a week after sowing in order to propagate the virus isolates. Infected leaves from each propagated virus isolate were collected two weeks post-inoculation and pooled at equal weights to prepare a composite inoculum for host range studies. Virus isolates were also used individually for additional characterization of host species. Inoculated plants were maintained in an insect-proof greenhouse under normal ambient condition (28˚C to 30˚C) for symptom development.

2.3 Host Range Determination

Four cereal crops, namely maize (Zea mays), sorghum (Sorghum bicolor), pearl millet (Pennisetum glaucum) and rice (Oryza sativa and O. glaberrima) were used for host range studies. A total of 84 cultivars of these crops originating from several research institutions were tested (Table 1). Plant seeds were sown in separate plots according to the species. Virus inoculum was prepared from four IYMV isolates including Bf4, Bz16, Lo9 and T2 as indicated above and was applied to 10 seedlings/plant species. Inoculation was done on the first fully expanded leaf, generally 3 to 5 days after emergence. Fifteen wild grass species in-

^aCIMMYT: International Maize and Wheat Improvement Centre, IITA: International Institute of Tropical Agriculture, INERA: Institute of Environment and Agricultural Research

cluding I. cylindrica were also tested. Plantlets obtained from seeds were mechanically inoculated 30 days after sowing generally. Inoculated plants were maintained in an insect-proof greenhouse for up to 45 days to monitor symptom development. In order to confirm IYMV presence or absence in inoculated plants, leaf samples were tested by serology and RT-PCR tests.

2.4. Serological Detection Tests

IYMV were diagnosed in plant extracts using triple-antibody sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay as previously described [11] . In brief, the procedure was the following: Immunoplates (Nunc) were coated for 2h with IgY polyclonal antibody as primary antibody in 0.5 M carbonate buffer, pH 9.6. Leaf samples were extracted in phosphate buffered saline pH 7.4 containing 0.05% Tween 20% and 0.1% skimmed milk. Leaf samples were incubated in duplicate overnight at 4˚C. Then, rabbit anti-IYMV polyclonal antibody was added as secondary antibody, followed by incubation of anti-rabbit alkaline phosphatase conjugate. Para-nitrophenolphosphate substrate was added at 1 mg/ml in 9.7% diethanolamine, pH 9.8. Plates were incubated for 1 h at 37˚C and absorbance values were recorded at 405 nm using a Metertech ∑960 multiskan microplate reader. Both inoculated and non-inoculated plant samples were analyzed. XLSTAT, statistical software for excel was used for data analysis. Samples were considered positive if their corresponding absorbance values were greater than the mean value for healthy controls plus three times the standard deviation.

2.5. RNA Extraction and RT-PCR Tests

Total RNA was extracted from plant leaves using RNeasy plant mini-kit (Qiagen), according to the manufacturer’s instructions. RNA was also extracted from healthy leaves to be used as negative controls. One microgram of each RNA preparation was reverse-transcribed and resulting cDNA was amplified using a set primers specific to IYMV.

For reverse-transcription (RT), 1 µg (~4 µl) of total RNA was mixed with 1 µl of 10 µM reverse primer IYMV-R4438-4454 (5'CGCCGCGACAACAGAGG3'). The reaction was heated for 10 min at 70˚C and immediately chilled on ice. Then the RT mix was added and the reaction (25 µl total volume) was incubated for 1 h at 42˚C. The RT mix was composed of 5 µl of 5× RT buffer, 0.5 µl of 25 U RNase inhibitor, 1 µl of 200 U of M-MLV-reverse transcriptase, 1µl of 10 mM dNTPs and sterile water.

IYMV coat protein coding region was amplified using primers IYMV_ F3483-3502 (5'AAACACAAGCAGGCAATGGG3') and IYMV_R4385-4404 (5' GCCGGACTCTCCTACCTTTG3') designed based on IYMV sequence accession number NC_011536. The PCR reaction mixture contained 2 µl of first strand cDNA, 5 µL of 10x PCR buffer, 1 µl of 10 mM dNTPs, forward and reverse primers (1 µl of each) and 0.08 µL of Go taq® Flexi DNA Polymerase in 20 µl reaction volume. The thermo-cycling conditions were as follows : 5 min at 94˚C (1 cycle), 94˚C for 30 s, 55˚C for 30 s and 72˚C for 1 min (35 cycles), and a final extension at 72˚C for 7 min. A reaction containing no cDNA template was included in all PCR tests as a blank control.

3. Results

3.1. Symptom Development

Of the 18 plants species tested, only three crops and two wild grasses developed symptoms in addition to I. cylindrica used as positive control (Figure 2). Susceptible crop species included maize, sorghum and pearl millet. No symptom appeared on inoculated rice plants whatever the species or the cultivar. In maize

and pearl millet, symptoms first developed as broken chlorotic lines along the nerves, clearly visible 10-12 days post-inoculation (dpi). Later on, typical mottle symptoms developed at 20 dpi. In sorghum, faint mosaic symptoms clearly appeared at 17 dpi and turned to yellow mosaic symptoms at 30 dpi.

In wild grasses, R. exaltata and I. cylindrica developed symptoms similar to those in maize at 12 - 14 dpi. However, as infection progressed, diseased plants showed more severe mottle symptoms with a bright yellow discoloration. In S. verticillata, symptoms first developed as chlorotic dots which evolved gradually into severe yellow mottle symptoms.

3.2. Virus Detection by ELISA and RT-PCR

IYMV presence was ascertained in leave extracts from all symptomatic plants. Corresponding absorbance values at 405 nm (A405 nm) ranged between 0.736 in sorghum cv. ICSV1049 and 1.578 in maize cv. Ky21 (Table 2). In any case, A405 nm values were far greater than the threshold values which did not exceed 0.080, clearly indicating IYMV detection. RT-PCR tests indicated the amplification of a 995 bp fragment from all ELISA positive samples (Figure 3). Moreover, back-inoculation of leaf extracts from symptomatic plants to I. cylindrica led to the development of typical yellow mottle symptoms. By contrast, asymptomatic leaf samples were all negative in either ELISA or RT-PCR tests. In addition, no symptom developed when leaf extracts were back-inoculated in maize cv. FBC6 or I. cylindrica.

3.3. Reactions of Plant Species to Individual Virus Isolates

Virus-host interactions between individual virus isolates and plant species which reacted positively to virus infection are presented in Table 3. Two types of virus-host interactions were observed. The first type was characterized by the ability of virus isolates BF4, BZ16 and Lo9 to infect all crop species including their

^aNumber of symptomatic plants/total number of plants tested. ^bTime for symptom development expressed in days post inoculation (dpi) ± standard deviation). ^cMean Absorbance values at 405 nm ± standard deviation obtained in ELISA tests. ^dPolymerase chain reaction (PCR): (+) for positive reaction, (−) for negative reaction. ^eBack-inoculation: (+) for presence of symptoms, (−) for absence of symptoms

corresponding cultivars as well as all wild host species. Therefore, plant infection using these isolates was similar to that produced by inoculation of the composite virus isolate. The second type of virus-host interaction involved virus isolate T2 which on the one hand infected all wild host species. On the other hand, only maize cultivar FBC6 was infected. Inoculated plants from all other maize cultivars and crop species remained symptomless and no virus could be detected in leaves extracts by ELISA or RT-PCR.

4. Discussion

In this study, the experimental host range of IYMV was studied among cereal crops and wild grass species. Crop species included maize, sorghum, pearl millet and rice which are the major cereal crops grown in Africa. IYMV successfully infected maize and the wild grass species R. exaltata, which was consistent with

Plants’ reactions to inoculation: (+) for presence of symptoms, (−) for absence of symptoms.

earlier studies [9] [10] . Additionally, two crops (sorghum and pearl millet) and the wild grass S. verticillata were reported for the first time among the virus host range. Surprisingly, none of the 23 rice cultivars was found susceptible to IYMV, whatever the rice species. IYMV and Rice yellow mottle virus (also a sobemovirus) occur in the same geographical areas and even in the same rice fields, but on distinct hosts. Therefore, our results suggested that either rice is not a host for IYMV or very specific virus isolates are needed for positive interactions with rice. Altogether, IYMV exhibited a narrow host range, a feature commonly found with sobemoviruses [12] . According to Sõmera and Truve [13] , Rottboellia yellow mottle virus (RoMoV) is able to infect I. cylindrica. RoMoV has not yet been reported in Burkina Faso but as both RoMoV and IYMV are present in West Africa, mixed infections in I. cylindrica or other common hosts such as maize and R. exaltata may occur [14] . No evidence of such mixed infections was found in this study and further investigation will be needed.

Contrary to maize, natural infection of sorghum and pear millet by IYMV has not been reported yet. However, in having three major cereal crops within its host range, IYMV must be considered as a highly potential threat for agricultural production where it occurs. The typical mottle symptoms observed in inoculated sorghum and pearl millet plants will be useful in assessing naturally-infected plants.

Whatever the crop, some cultivars were not infected upon virus inoculation. Possibly, those cultivars harbor useful resistance genes and could be directly used in disease management. They may also serve as sources of resistance in breeding programs to develop virus resistant varieties.

Isolate T2 exhibited reduced infection capability especially in maize. Therefore the use of individual virus isolate for studying IYMV interactions with host species clearly indicated pathogenic discrepancies compared to the composite virus isolate. These results suggested that non-infected crop cultivars found in the study may be susceptible to IYMV if adequate isolates are used. Moreover, using as many as possible virus isolates to prepare the composite virus inoculum may prove more efficient in host range studies or screening for virus resistance [15] .

5. Conclusion

This study on the host range of IYMV shed more light on the epidemiology of Imperata yellow mottle disease. The clear expression of mottle symptoms on identified host plants, i.e. crop species (maize, sorghum and pearl millet) and wild grass species (S. verticillata and R. exaltata) is of great importance for virus surveys in the field. This is also supported by the fact that virus infection was always characterized by symptom development. Because, most cultivars of cereal crops identified as hosts for IYMV are currently grown by farmers, virus incidence in the field as well as its impacts of yield losses are yet to be determined. The specific virus-host interactions between isolate T2 and maize cv. FBC6 underlines the need for a more thorough investigation of the virus diversity.

Acknowledgements

Financial supports for this study were provided in part by PROVEG program (Proveg: a network on plant protection through Program to support network- based research in Africa, PARRAF http://proveg.org/accueil) and by the International Foundation for Science (IFS) through fellowship N° C/5358-1 to Moustapha KOALA.

We thank Dr. Sanou Jacob, Dr. Dao Abdallah, Drabo Inoussa and Nikiema Zara for providing the seeds cereal crop cultivars.

Cite this paper

Koala, M., Traoré, V.S.E., Sérémé, D., Neya, B.J., Brugidou, C., Barro, N. and Traoré, O. (2017) Imperata yellow mottle virus: An Emerging Threat to Maize, Sorghum and Pearl Millet in Burkina Faso. Agricultural Sciences, 8, 397-408. https://doi.org/10.4236/as.2017.85030

References