Identification of Barley Yellow Dwarf Viruses: Comparison of Biological and Serological Methods

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Abstract
During 1979 and 1980, parallel tests were made for variants of barley yellow dwarf virus in 216 field-collected samples of small grains by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (EIA) with 4 antisera and by aphid transmission tests with 4 vector species. In 174 of the comparisons, results of both methods agreed; in 39, the EIA procedure resulted in more complete information than the aphid tests; in 2, the methods gave different results; and in 1, the biological test was more informative than the serological one. Of 265 barley yellow dwarf virus isolates identified from 187 plants, 164 were similar to PAV (virus transmitted nonspecifically by Rhopalosiphum padi and Sitobion avenae); 69 resembled RMV (transmitted specifically by R. maidis); 20 were similar to RPV (transmitted specifically by R. padi); 9 were similar to MAV (transmitted specifically by S. [= Macrosiphum] avenae); and 3 resembled SGV (transmitted specifically by Schizaphis graminum). The EIA procedure was especially useful in detecting mixed infections, which were found in 60 of the 187 infected plants. Although the EIA procedure had many advantages, some limitations were encountered, especially in identification of isolates similar to RMV.