Utility of a GFP-expressing Barley yellow mosaic virus for analyzing disease resistance genes

The soil-borne plasmodiophorid Polymyxa graminis is a vector for Barley yellow mosaic virus (BaYMV), which can severely damage barley plants. Although 22 disease resistance genes have been identified, only a few have been used for breeding virus-resistant cultivars. Recently, BaYMV strains capable of overcoming the effects of some of these genes have been detected. In this study, green fluorescent protein (GFP)-expressing BaYMV was constructed and used to examine viral dynamics in inoculated barley plants. Leaf inoculations resulted in higher infection rates than root or crown inoculations. Additionally, inoculations of some resistant cultivars produced infections that were similar to those observed in a field test. The results of this study indi- cate that the GFP-expressing virus is a useful tool for visualizing virus replication and dynamics, and for understanding resistance mechanisms.

Automated summary

This study constructed a GFP-expressing BaYMV and inoculated it in barley plants to visualize viral replication and dynamics, as well as understand resistance mechanisms. Results showed higher infection rates in leaf inoculations compared to root or crown inoculations, with some resistant cultivars producing infections similar to field test observations.