June 30, 2005
Source: American Phytopathological Society, Plant Disease Notes [edited]

First report of bean pod mottle virus in soybean in Iran
N. Shahraeen and T. Ghotbi, Plant Virus Research Department, Plant Pests and Disease Research Institute (PPDRI), P.O. Box-19395-1454, Tehran, Iran; M. Salati, Agricultural Research Center, Gorgan, Iran; and A. Sahandi, Plant Virus Research Department, Plant Pests and Disease Research Institute (PPDRI), P.O. Box-19395-1454 Tehran, Iran. Plant Dis. 89:775, 2005; published on-line as DOI: 10.1094/PD-89-0775C. Accepted for publication 19 Apr 2005.

Soybean (_Glycine max_ (L.) Merr.) has been increasing in importance and acreage for the past 5 years in Iran and is now planted on approximately 108 000 ha. Previous surveys in Iran of viruses infecting soybean failed to identify Bean pod mottle virus (BPMV), but the incidence of other common viruses of soybean in the field has
been reported (1).

During October 2004, symptoms characteristic of those caused by BPMV including mosaic, puckering of trifoliate leaves, and delayed maturity of stems or green stems were observed in soybean fields in the Takhti Mahaleh, Versen, and Hashemabad areas located in Gorgan Province [Gorgan is the capital of Golestan Province]. Sporadic
incidence of plants infected with BPMV has been usually of minor importance to growers. Symptoms were often overlooked or considered to be physiological disorders.

A visual assessment was made to determine incidence of green stem in the commonly grown soybean cv. Sahar. 40 soybean plants showing symptoms of crinkling, mottling, green stem, and retaining green leaves were sampled by collecting one trifoliate leaf near the top of the plant. All samples were tested in parallel for BPMV using double-antibody sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (DAS-ELISA).

BPMV was detected in 40 percent of the samples. 7 of the samples shown to be infected with BPMV using DAS-ELISA were mechanically (2) transferred to soybean seedlings in the greenhouse. These plants developed systemic mottle symptoms typical of those caused by BPMV and tested positive for BPMV using DAS-ELISA.

The distribution of BPMV within soybean-growing regions, exploration of potential virus reservoirs, and economic impact of this virus have yet to be determined. There is no published report on the presence of potential BPMV vectors including the bean leaf beetle (_Cerotoma trifurcata_) from soybean fields in Iran.

To our knowledge, this is the 1st report of BPMV in Iran.

References:

(1) A. R. Golnaraghi et al. Plant Dis.88:1069, 2004.
(2) R. Louie et al. Plant Dis.84:1133, 2000.

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[BPMV causes significant crop losses in soybean. It is spread primarily by the bean leaf beetle _Cerotoma trifurcata_ (bean leaf beetle), _Colaspis brunnea_ (grape colaspis), _Diabrotica balteata_, and southern corn root worm (_D. undecimpunctata_). BPMV is stable, easily transmitted mechanically and occurs at relatively high levels
in seed coats from seeds of infected soybean. Yields from infected plants are lowered by 10-40 percent, grain quality is reduced both in oil and protein, seed germination is lower and delayed maturation results in a condition known as 'green stem.'

The fact that BPMV has been reported in Iran is interesting, suggesting that infected seed may have been used for planting. This report may be the 1st finding of BPMV outside of North America. If any of our readers know of other BPMV outbreaks in soybean, please let me know.

Links:
<http://image.fs.uidaho.edu/vide/descr073.htm>
<http://www.planthealth.info/pdf_docs/Gieslerbpmv.pdf>
<http://www.apsnet.org/phyto/pdfs/2002/0218-01R.pdf>
<http://www.ingentaconnect.com/content/esa/jee/2004/00000097/00000002/art00006>
- Mod.DH]

[see also in the archive:
2002
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Bean pod mottle comovirus, soybean - Canada 20020501.4066]