Tall Fescue as a Natural Host and Aphid Vectors of Barley Yellow Dwarf Virus in Missouri

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Abstract
Eighty-one of 136 symptomless tall fescue plants (59.6%) collected from 90 Missouri [USA] counties were infected with a virus that was transmitted by Rhopalosiphum padi and produced symptoms typical of infection by barley yellow dwarf virus on ''Grundy'' oat [Avena sativa] seedlings. Purified preparations from the infected oat plants contained discrete isometric particles (diameter, 25-30 nm). R. padi acquired and transmitted to the virus to ''Grundy'' oat seedlings after feeding on purified preparations. R. padi, R. maidis and Schizaphis graminum naturally colonizing small grain plants in the field during 1977-1980 were also viruliferous. The presence of a large natural reservoir of barley dwarf virus in tall fescue in Missouri is indicated.