Aubian wheat mosaic virus, a new soil-borne wheat virus emerging in France

The properties of Aubian wheat mosaic virus (AWMV), a new soil-borne wheat virus in France, were investigated. Symptoms include foliar mosaic and severe stunting of winter wheat. The vector of the disease is unknown but the plants infected carry Polymyxa graminis in the roots. AWMV was transmitted mechanically to wheat and to two dicotyledoneous species: Lactuca sativa and Vicia faba. This virus was transmitted by seed to three winter wheat cultivars tested. Purified preparations contained rod-shaped particles with a variable length of 150–700 nm. Certain particles are very long and appear flexible. Antiserum raised against AWMV reacted specifically with AWMV in both indirect and direct enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA). The incidence of AWMV in 26 winter wheat cultivars was investigated in the field during the growing season of 1999–2000. AWMV was detected in roots and shoots of all cultivars regardless of the symptoms. Twelve virus species belonging to the genera Benyvirus, Bymovirus, Furovirus, Pecluvirus and Pomovirus did not react with the AWMV antisera. A new tubular virus described in winter wheat in Bedfordshire in England reacted strongly with AWMV in ELISA. It is concluded that AWMV and probably the Bedford-virus constitute a previously undescribed tubular virus biologically and serologically distinct from other soil-borne viruses of wheat.