Authors: Michael C Edwards John J Weiland Jane Todd Lucy R Stewart Shunwen Lu
Publish Date: 2016/02/02
Volume: 52, Issue: 2, Pages: 303-307
Abstract
Maize rayado fino virus MRFV possesses an open reading frame ORF43 predicted to encode a 43 kDa protein p43 that has been postulated to be a viral movement protein Using a clone of MRFV pMRFVUS from which infectious RNA can be produced point mutations were introduced to either prevent initiation from three potential AUG initiation codons near the 5′end of ORF43 or prematurely terminate translation of ORF43 Inoculation of maize seed via vascular puncture inoculation VPI resulted in plants exhibiting symptoms typical of MRFV infection for all mutants tested Furthermore corn leafhoppers Dalbulus maidis transmitted the virus mutants to healthy plants at a frequency similar to that for wildtype MRFVUS Viral RNA recovered from plants infected with mutants both prior to and after leafhopper transmission retained mutations blocking ORF43 expression The results indicate that ORF43 of MRFV is dispensable for both systemic infection of maize and transmission by leafhoppersMention of trade names or commercial products in this publication is solely for the purpose of providing specific information and does not imply recommendation or endorsement by the US Department of Agriculture USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer
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