Natural infection of Cucumber mosaic virus, Pea seed-borne mosaic virus and Turnip yellows virus in a fenugreek crop (Trigonella foenum-graecum)

Abstract

For the first time, Cucumber mosaic virus (CMV), Pea seed-borne mosaic virus (PSbMV) and Turnip yellows virus (TuYV) were detected in a naturally infected fenugreek (Trigonella foenum-graecum) crop in Australia. The level of infection reached an alarming 90%, 75% and 20% respectively for CMV, TuYV and PSbMV, resulting in total crop loss. Both CMV and TuYV were detected in non-symptomatic fenugreek plants while PSbMV was not. Seed lots from the crop in question were established, planted in the glasshouse and tested for a range of seed-borne viruses, none of which were detected. Additionally, fenugreek seedlings grown from the seeds in the glasshouse were found to be readily infected with a TuYV isolate from canola when inoculated using viruliferous Myzus persicae.