(251) Screening Spring-seeded Onion Cultivars for Iris Yellow Spot Virus

Abstract

Identification of resistant cultivars offers the best control for Iris yellow spot virus (IYSV), a new onion disease vectored by Thrips tabaci. In this study, 18 spring-seeded onion cultivars were screened for IYSV. Each alternate plot in the field was planted with infected bulbs from the previous year to serve as a source of virus inoculum and thrips. With increased thrips population and temperature over time, straw-colored, necrotic lesions typical to IYSV infection were observed on plant leaves. Plants were analyzed by enzyme linked immunosorbant assay to confirm the IYSV infection and determine the virus titer. Ten randomly selected plants from each plot were rated for IYSV symptoms on a scale of 1 to 9, with 1 representing no symptomatic tissue and 9 representing more than 50% tissue damage. Starting 1 June, disease ratings were collected each week until 13 July. Nearly all cultivars showed similar disease symptoms when rated on 1 June. By 29 June, NMSU 03-52-1 exhibited some tolerance to IYSV as fewer symptoms were observed. By 13 July, NMSU 03-52-1 exhibited fewer disease symptoms than most of the other cultivars tested, while `Caballero' showed the highest IYSV symptoms. All other cultivars showed low to high susceptibility for IYSV. The increase in disease severity was accompanied by a relative increase in the virus titer of plants over time. However, virus titer poorly correlated with the amount of disease symptoms in different cultivars. The most tolerant cultivar, NMSU 03-52-1, had higher virus titer than many susceptible cultivars but still performed well. Conversely, some cultivars with low virus titer were susceptible and developed more symptoms. This indicates a difference in the capabilities of different cultivars to resist IYSV.