Non-Transmission of Tobacco streak virus Isolate Occurring in India Through the 5eeds of 5ome Crop and Weed Hosts

Tobacco streak virus (TSV; genus Ilarvirus, family Bromoviridae) responsible for necrosis disease in sunflower, groundnut and several forage legumes has emerged as a major threat to several crops during last one decade in India. The virus has a wide host range comprising of variety of crops, wild species and weeds, and the virus is transmitted through pollen assisted by thrips (Thysanoptera: Thripidae). Certain strains of TSV are known to be transmitted in seed of a range of host species. The present study investigated possible transmission of TSV isolate occurring in India in seed of naturally and experimentally infected groundnut (Arachis hypogaea), sunflower (Helianthus annuus), mungbean (Vigna radiata), marigold (Tagetes erecta), French bean (Phaseolous vulgaris), urdbean (Vigna mungo), soybean (Glycine max), Chenopodium quinoa, Gomphrena globosa and Parthenium hysterophorus. Studies revealed that TSV seed transmission was not observed in any of these host species. Implications of this finding on disease epidemiology are also discussed in this paper.