Serological relationship among maize rough dwarf-like viruses

Abstract

The serological relationships of most of the known maize rough dwarf-like viruses were investigated using immune electron microscopy and gel-diffusion tests to detect the reactions of the inner capsids and the B spikes of the virus particles. The antigens were those of maize rough dwarf virus (MRDV), pangola stunt virus (PSV), cereal tillering disease virus (CTDV), oat sterile dwarf virus (OSDV), Arrhenatherum blue dwarf virus (ABDV) and Lolium enation virus (LEV). The sera were those against MRDV, rice black streaked dwarf virus (RBSDV), and Fiji diseases virus (FDV). These were absorbed with healthy material and dsRNA if necessary. The results showed that MRDV, RBSDV, PSV, and CTDV were serologically related in both the inner capsid and the B spike. However, MRDV, PSV, and CTDV did not react with FDV antiserum (RBSDV was not available). OSDV, ABDV, and LEV did not react with sera against MRDV, RBSDV, or FDV. We conclude that the MRDV-like viruses fall into at least three serological groups: (I) MRDV, RBSDV, PSV, and CTDV (interrelated, but not related to II and III); (II) FDV (not related to I and III); (III) OSDV, ABDV, and LEV (not related to I and II, but interrelationships unknown).