↵​Urdbean Leaf Crinkle Disease- Assessment of Seed Transmissibility and Its Effect on Yield and Seed Quality in Urdbean [Vigna mungo (L.) Hepper]

Background: Urdbean leaf crinkle disease (ULCD) is one of the most devastating biotic stress factors which is responsible for drastic yield loss in urdbean [Vigna mungo (L.) Hepper]. The etiology of ULCD is still unknown and there are conflicting reports on its transmission through seed, insect vectors, grafting and infected sap. Methods: Per cent seed transmission of ULCD had been studied during kharif, rabi and summer during the year 2019-2020 under natural and insect proof conditions. The effect on yield and seed quality parameters due to ULCD infection was studied. Urdbean cultivar VBN 8 was used in the present study. Result: The per cent seed transmission of ULCD was recorded ranging from 52.88 to 71.64% under natural conditions. In the insect proof glasshouse condition, the seed transmission was 83.62%. All the yield and seed quality parameters were adversely affected upon ULCD infection. The reduction in yield was recorded as 64.36% over the uninfected healthy plants. In ULCD infected seeds, the germination was reduced (84%) as compared to healthy seeds (92%).

Profiling the Lolium perenne Microbiome: From Seed to Seed

Lolium perenne (perennial ryegrass) is a common temperate pasture grass species and is favored by dairy farmers. Commercially, the known association with the mutualistic endophytic fungus Epichloë festucae subsp. lolii is used to enhance insect resistance of host plants. Knowledge of other members of the microbiome and their functions are limited. Sequencing of the V4 region of the 16S ribosomal RNA gene was used to examine the bacterial microbiome of perennial ryegrass (Alto) seed (generation 1 [G1]), subsequent mature plants grown in soil and sand, and seed (generation 2 [G2]) from crosses of these mature plants. The G1 microbiome was dominated by the class Gammaproteobacteria. The mature plant microbiomes were far more diverse, comprising up to 37 classes inclusive of Gammaproteobacteria. Different growth media yielded different microbiome profiles in mature plants. The G2 microbiome, similar to the G1 microbiome, was dominated by Gammaproteobacteria as the primary constituent, with additional supplementation from class Bacilli. This suggests the continuation of a core microbiome which persists from seed through plant maturation to seed. This study sheds new light on the hereditability of perennial ryegrass bacterial microbiomes and has identified some operational taxonomic units of potential commercial significance due to their seed transmissibility, and their roles are currently being explored.

On Seed Transmissibility of Soybean vein necrosis-associated virus in Symptomless Soybean Seedlings

A letter regarding a recent PLoS One paper, in which Groves et al (2016) claims that Soybean vein necrosis-associated virus (SVNaV) was seed transmissible in symptomless seedlings derived from a seed lot of a field-grown soybean variety with symptoms indicative of virus infection. Accepted for publication 28 July 2016.

Response to “On Seed Transmissibility of Soybean vein necrosisassociated virus in Symptomless Soybean Seedlings”

A response to M. R. Hajimorad's letter regarding a recent PLoS One paper, in which Groves et al (2016) claims that Soybean vein necrosis-associated virus (SVNaV) was seed transmissible in symptomless seedlings derived from a seed lot of a field-grown soybean variety with symptoms indicative of virus infection. Accepted for publication 28 July 2016.