Characterization of wheat virus Q from wheat in Hokkaido, Japan
摘要
Wheat virus Q (WVQ) is a novel soil-borne wheat virus reported in Hokkaido, Japan, and in China in 2021 but is not yet fully characterized. We studied viral infections in wheat leaves with yellowing and stunting in our test fields in Naganuma, Hokkaido, using small RNA sequencing. We detected WVQ and wheat yellow mosaic virus (WYMV) and soil-borne wheat mosaic virus. In 2022, we analyzed the distribution of WVQ in Hokkaido, the prevalence of mixed infection with WYMV, and the association of disease symptoms with WVQ infection. WVQ was detected as much as or more than WYMV, which is widespread throughout most wheat-growing areas in Hokkaido. Some plants were coinfected with WVQ and WYMV; others were infected with only one of the two. These results indicate that WVQ and WYMV do not necessarily coexist. Cross-analysis of the relationship between symptoms and virus infection suggested that WVQ tends to intensify the symptoms of WYMV in wheat, although infection with WVQ alone was asymptomatic. All cultivars examined were susceptible to WVQ. The extensive distribution of WVQ highlights the need for future studies to evaluate its impact on wheat production, particularly in terms of yield loss and grain mass.