The Wheat Dwarf India Virus-Betasatellite Complex Has a Wider Host Range Than Previously Reported

Abstract

Wheat dwarf India virus (WDIV) and associated alphasatellite and betasatellite have been documented to infect wheat (Triticum aestivum). Here, we report, for the first time, presence of WDIV and the associated Ageratum yellow leaf curl betasatellite (AYLCB) in barley (Hordeum vulgare) and sugarcane (Saccharum officinarum) in addition to wheat. However, surprisingly, the previously reported alphasatellites were not detected in the WDIV-positive barley, sugarcane, and wheat samples. The virus and betasatellite detected from barley, sugarcane, and wheat showed high levels of sequence identity to the previously reported WDIV and AYLCB. The study shows that WDIV may have much wider host range than previously documented.