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Fraxinus rhynchophylla, common name ash, belongs to the family Oleaceae and is found in China, Korea, North America, the Indian subcontinent, and eastern Russia. It has been used as a traditional herbal medicine in Korea and various parts of the world due to its chemical constituents. During a field survey in March 2019, mild vein thickening (almost negligible) was observed in a few ash trees. High-throughput sequencing of libraries of total DNA from ash trees, rolling-circle amplification (RCA), and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) allowed the identification of a Fraxinus symptomless virus. This virus has five confirmed open reading frames along with a possible sixth open reading frame that encodes the movement protein and is almost 2.7 kb in size, with a nonanucleotide and stem loop structure identical to begomoviruses. In terms of its size and structure, this virus strongly resembles begomoviruses, but does not show any significant sequence identity with them. To confirm movement of the virus within the trees, different parts of infected trees were examined, and viral movement was successfully observed. No satellite molecules or DNA B were identified. Two-step PCR confirmed the virion and complementary strands during replication in both freshly collected infected samples of ash tree and Nicotiana benthamiana samples agro-inoculated with infectious clones. This taxon is so distantly grouped from other known geminiviruses that it likely represents a new geminivirus genus.

This study researched the current occurrence status of viral diseases of solanaceous crops in the main production areas of Gangwon region, for four years from 2014 to 2018. From 2014 to 2018, in eight cities and counties including Chuncheon, Cucumber mosaic virus (CMV), Broad bean wilt virus 2 (BBWV2), Pepper mild mottle virus (PMMoV), Tomato spotted wilt virus (TSWV), and Potato virus Y occurred in chilli peppers. In case of tomato, the research was performed in 2017 and 2018 while TSWV and Tomato yellow leaf curl virus (TYLCV) were verified in Chuncheon, Hoengseong, and Cheorwon. Especially, TYLCV occurred in Chuncheon region for the first time in 2017, which was verified in 2018. Lastly, the current occurrence status of viral diseases of bell peppers was researched in seven cities and counties like Gangneung, Hoengseong, and Cheorwon from 2015 to 2018. In the results, CMV, BBWV2, PMMoV, Pepper mottle virus, and TSWV were verified in bell peppers of Gangwon region. During the research period, there were no crops suspected or infected by Beet western yellows virus, so that it is judged that there is no villiferous or infected aphid by this virus in Gangwon-do. Such results of this study could be used as the basic data for the stable production of crops through the early prevention of plant diseases occurring in the solanaceous crops of Gangwon region.

Plum pox virus (PPV) is a significant viral disease in Prunus spp. worldwide. A nationwide survey was started in Prunus spp. orchards, since PPV was first detected from peach in Korea, 2015. During 2016-2017, samples were collected from 30,333 trees in 1,985 orchards of stone fruits in 8 provinces and 4 cities, Korea and tested by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction using specific PPV primer set. As a result, 21 trees including peach (9 trees), Japanese apricot (4 trees), plum (1 tree), apricot (7 trees) in 10 orchards were infected and controlled by eradication program. Amplicons of the expected size (547 bp) were obtained from total RNA of seven peach trees in 2016, and directly sequenced. BLAST analysis revealed the highest nucleotide (NT) identity (99%) with a PPV D isolates (LC331298, LT600782) in GenBank. The seven isolates from shared nt sequence identities of 98 to 100% with one another. Phylogenetic analysis showed the isolates in peach clustered closely with the PPV-D isolates from Korea, Japan, USA, and Canada. This is, to our knowledge, the first report of the presence of PPV in Prunus spp. orchards in Korea, 2016-2017, we hope that our results and efforts will contribute to effective measures for eradication of PPV.

Complete genome sequences of 22 isolates of Cucurbit aphid-borne yellows virus (CABYV), collected from melon plants showing yellowing symptom in Korea during the years 2013–2014, were determined and compared with previously reported CABYV genome sequences. The complete genomes were found to be 5,680–5,684 nucleotides in length and to encode six open reading frames (ORFs) that are separated into two regions by a non-coding internal region (IR) of 199 nucleotides. Their genomic organization is typical of the genus Polerovirus. Based on phylogenetic analyses of complete nucleotide (nt) sequences, CABYV isolates were divided into four groups: Asian, Mediterranean, Taiwanese, and R groups. The Korean CABYV isolates clustered with the Asian group with > 94% nt sequence identity. In contrast, the Korean CABYV isolates shared 87–89% sequence identities with the Mediterranean group, 88% with the Taiwanese group, 81–84% with the CABYV-R group, and 72% with another polerovirus, M.. Recombination analyses identified 24 recombination events (12 different recombination types) in the analyzed CABYV population. In the Korean CABYV isolates, four recombination types were detected from eight isolates. Two recombination types were detected in the IR and P3–P5 regions, respectively, which have been reported as hotspots for recombination of CABYV. This result suggests that recombination is an important evolutionary force in the genetic diversification of CABYV populations.

Here, we propose magnetically driven microrobots for targeted cell delivery that can efficiently swim in various physiological environments. The three-dimensional (3D) microrobots were sophisticatedly fabricated by using micro-electro-mechanical systems (MEMS) technologies such as 3D laser lithography and metal sputtering. The magnetic field generated by an electromagnetic coil system allows efficient wireless actuation of the microrobots, which was characterized in various physiological conditions (in vitro viscous fluid, ex vivo rat brain blood vessels and a live nude mouse intraperitoneal cavity (in vivo)). Especially, the microrobots demonstrated stem cell transportation inside the body cavity of the nude mouse as a proof of concept of targeted cell delivery. Through this study, the use of the proposed microrobots has shown the feasibility of future applications in precision medicine.

The Sweet potato chlorotic fleck virus (SPCFV), of the genus Carlavirus (family Betaflexiviridae), was first detected as one of several viruses infecting sweet potatoes (Ipomea batatas L.) in Korea. Out of 154 sweet potato samples collected in 2012 that were showing virus-like symptoms, 47 (31%) were infected with SPCFV, along with other viruses. The complete genome sequences of four SPCFV isolates were determined and analyzed using previously reported genome sequences. The complete genomes were found to contain 9,104-9,108 nucleotides, excluding the poly-A tail, containing six putative open reading frames (ORFs). Further, the SPCFV Korean isolates were divided into two groups (Group I and Group II) by phylogenetic analysis based on the complete nucleotide sequences; Group I and Group II had low nucleotide sequence identities of about 73%. For the first time, we determined the complete genome sequence for the Group II SPCFV isolates. The amino acid sequence identity in coat proteins (CP) between the two groups was over 90%, whereas the amino acid sequence identity in other proteins was less than 80%. In addition, SPCFV Korean isolates had a low amino acid sequence identity (61% CPs and 47% in the nucleotide- binding protein [NaBp] region) to that of Melon yellowing-associated virus (MYaV), a typical Carlavirus.

Major viruses infecting rice are transmitted by planthoppers such as small brown planthopper (SBPH), brown planthopper (BPH) and white-backed planthopper (WBPH). In this study, we investigated planthoppers captured during 2015 to 2017 by a smart sky net trap (SSNT) system installed in 40 areas in Korea, which is an automatic, rapid and real-time insect surveillance system. The average rates of captured migration plnathoppers was 27.5%, 17.2%, 15.3% and 10.9% in Chungcheongnamdo, Jeollanamdo, Jeollabukdo and Gyeonggido, orderly. The highly migrated month was July for SBPH, July to August for WBPH and August for BPH. To investigate the viruliferous rates of planthoppers of rice during 2015 to 2017, we performed RT-PCR using specific primers for each rice virus. RBSDV was detected from 0.4% in SBPH, while no viruses were detected in BPH and SBPH. Rice planthoppers exist all around in Asia. They can move long distance by wind from southern countries to Korea. Monitoring the migration of rice planthoppers and their viruliferous rates is important to prevent the outbreaks of rice virus diseases.

Major tomato viruses in Korea are Tomato chlorosis virus (ToCV), Tomato spotted wilt virus (TSWV), Cucumber mosaic virus (CMV), Pepper mottle virus (PepMoV), and Tomato mosaic virus (ToMV). RT-PCR conditions for the viruses were examined, especially in primer set and RT-PCR mixture. Total 46 primer sets from the unique sequence of the viruses were tested for nonspecific background products in a RT-PCR mixture without template. Among them 16 primer sets were applied to healthy tomato RNA, resulting the compatibility between RT-PCR mixture and primer set influenced RT-PCR to reduce nonspecific background products. Based on the combinations among cDNA synthesis parameters and RT-PCR mixtures, two reaction mixtures were finally selected for ToCV detection. The condition allowed to determine more specific primer sets; C029 (ToCV), C072 (TSWV), C070 (CMV), C048 (PepMoV), and C065 (ToMV). These primer sets are expected to be of use to specific detection of the major viruses in tomato plants.

Magnetic microrobots were developed for three-dimensional culture and the precise delivery of stem cells in vitro, ex vivo, and in vivo. Hippocampal neural stem cells attached to the microrobots proliferated and differentiated into astrocytes, oligodendrocytes, and neurons. Moreover, microrobots were used to transport colorectal carcinoma cancer cells to tumor microtissue in a body-on-a-chip, which comprised an in vitro liver-tumor microorgan network. The microrobots were also controlled in a mouse brain slice and rat brain blood vessel. Last, microrobots carrying mesenchymal stem cells derived from human nose were manipulated inside the intraperitoneal cavity of a nude mouse. The results indicate the potential of microrobots for the culture and delivery of stem cells.

In plant virus ecology, weeds are regarded as wild reservoirs of viruses and as potential sources for insect-mediated transmission of viruses. During field surveys in 2013-2014, three Leonurus sibiricus plants showing virus-like symptoms were collected from pepper fields in Daegu, Seosan, and Danyang in Korea. Molecular diagnosis assays showed that the collected L. sibiricus samples were infected with either Tomato spotted wilt virus (TSWV), Pepper mild mottle virus (PMMoV), or Beet western yellow virus (BWYV), respectively. Since this is the first identification of TSWV, PMMoV, and BWYV from L. sibiricus, complete genome sequences of three virus isolates were determined to examine their phylogenetic relationships with the previously reported strains and isolates. Phylogenetic analyses performed using full genome sequences of the viruses showed the isolates of TSWV and PMMoV obtained from L. sibiricus are closely related to the pepper isolates of the corresponding viruses. Our results suggest that L. sibiricus could act an alternative host and reservoir of viruses that cause damages in pepper fields.

The infectious full-length cDNA clone of zucchini yellow mosaic virus (ZYMV) isolate PA (pZYMV-PA), which was isolated from pumpkin, was constructed by utilizing viral transcription and processing signals to produce infectious in vivo transcripts. Simple rub-inoculation of plasmid DNAs of pZYMV-PA was successful to cause infection of zucchini plants (Cucurbita pepo L.). We further engineered this infectious cDNA clone of ZYMV as a viral vector for systemic expression of heterologous proteins in cucurbits. We successfully expressed two reporter genes including gfp and bar in zucchini plants by simple rub-inoculation of plasmid DNAs of the ZYMV-based expression constructs. Our method of the ZYMV-based viral vector in association with the simple rub-inoculation provides an easy and rapid approach for introduction and evaluation of heterologous genes in cucurbits.

Melon necrotic spot virus (MNSV) was recently identified on watermelon (Citrullus vulgaris) in Korea, displaying as large necrotic spots and vein necrosis on the leaves and stems. The average occurrence of MNSV on watermelon was found to be 30–65% in Hapcheon and Andong City, respectively. Four isolates of the virus (MNSV-HW, MNSV-AW, MNSV-YW, and MNSV-SW) obtained from watermelon plants in different areas were non-pathogenic on ten general indicator plants, including Chenopodium quinoa, while they infected systemically six varieties of Cucurbitaceae. The virus particles purified by 10–40% sucrose density gradient centrifugation had a typical ultraviolet spectrum, with a minimum at 245 nm and a maximum at 260 nm. The morphology of the virus was spherical with a diameter of 28–30 nm. Virus particles were observed scattered throughout the cytoplasm of watermelon cells, but no crystals were detected. An ELISA was conducted using antiserum against MNSV-HW; the optimum concentrations of IgG and conjugated IgG for the assay were 1 μl/ml and a 1:8,000–1:10,000 dilutions, respectively. Antiserum against MNSV-HW could capture specifically both MNSV-MN from melon and MNSV-HW from watermelon by IC/RT-PCR, and they were effectively detected with the same specific primer to produce product of 1,172 bp. The dsRNA of MNSV-HW had the same profile (4.5, 1.8, and 1.6 kb) as that of MNSV-MN from melon. The nucleotide sequence of the coat protein of MNSV-HW gave a different phylogenetic tree, having 17.2% difference in nucleotide sequence compared with MNSV isolates from melon.

Background: Quantitative electroencephalography (qEEG) is effective when used to analyze ongoing cortical oscillations in cochlear implant (CI) users. However, localization of cortical activity in such users via qEEG is confounded by the presence of artifacts produced by the device itself. Typically, independent component analysis (ICA) is used to remove CI artifacts in auditory evoked EEG signals collected upon brief stimulation and it is effective for auditory evoked potentials (AEPs). However, AEPs do not reflect the daily environments of patients, and thus, continuous EEG data that are closer to such environments are desirable. In this case, device-related artifacts in EEG data are difficult to remove selectively via ICA due to over-completion of EEG data removal in the absence of preprocessing. New methods: EEGs were recorded for a long time under conditions of continuous auditory stimulation. To obviate the over-completion problem, we limited the frequency of CI artifacts to a significant characteristic peak and apply ICA artifact removal. Results: Topographic brain mapping results analyzed via band-limited (BL)-ICA exhibited a better energy distribution, matched to the CI location, than data obtained using conventional ICA. Also, source localization data verified that BL-ICA effectively removed Cl artifacts. Comparison with existing method: The proposed method selectively removes Cl artifacts from continuous EEG recordings, while ICA removal method shows residual peak and removes important brain activity signals. Conclusion: Cl artifacts in EEG data obtained during continuous passive listening can be effectively removed with the aid of BL-ICA, opening up new EEG research possibilities in subjects with Cls. (C) 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Animals change sensory responses and their eventual behaviors, depending on their internal metabolic status and external food availability. However, the mechanisms underlying feeding state-dependent behavioral changes remain undefined. Previous studies have shown that Caenorhabditis elegans hermaphrodite exhibits avoidance behaviors to acute exposure of a pheromone, ascr#3 (asc-ΔC9, C9). Here, we show that the ascr#3 avoidance behavior is modulated by feeding state via the insulin signaling pathway. Starvation increases ascr#3 avoidance behavior, and loss-of-function mutations in daf-2 insulin-like receptor gene dampen this starvation-induced ascr#3 avoidance behavior. DAF-2 and its downstream signaling molecules, including the DAF-16 FOXO transcription factor, act in the ascr#3-sensing ADL neurons to regulate synaptic transmission to downstream target neurons, including the AVA command interneurons. Moreover, we found that starvation decreases the secretion of INS-18 insulin-like peptides from the intestine, which antagonizes DAF-2 function in the ADL neurons. Altogether, this study provides insights about the molecular communication between intestine and sensory neurons delivering hunger message to sensory neurons, which regulates avoidance behavior from pheromones to facilitate survival chance.

Cucumber mosaic virus possesses 2b gene known as a suppressor of post-transcriptional gene silencing (PTGS). To investigate its function and effect in plant, transgenic Nicotiana benethamiana expressing 2b gene was developed and analyzed in phenotypic characteristics and differential gene expression (DEG) comparing with wild-type. Eight lines of transgenic plants (T0) were obtained with difficulty and showed severe deformed phenotypes in leaves, flowers, petioles and etc. Moreover, transgenic plants were hardly able to set seeds, but small amounts of seeds were barely produced in some of transgene-hemizygous plants. DEG analysis showed that transgenic plant ectopically accumulated diverse RNA transcripts at higher levels than wild-type probably due to the disturbance in RNA metabolism, especially of RNA decay, caused by 2b-mediated inhibition of PTGS. These ectopic accumulations of RNAs disrupt protein and RNA homeostasis and then subsequently lead to abnormal phenotypes of transgenic plants.

Summary Experiences during early development can influence neuronal functions and modulate adult behaviors [1, 2]. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying the long-term behavioral effects of these early experiences are not fully understood. The C. elegans ascr#3 (asc-ΔC9; C9) pheromone triggers avoidance behavior in adult hermaphrodites [3–7]. Here, we show that hermaphrodites that are briefly exposed to ascr#3 immediately after birth exhibit increased ascr#3-specific avoidance as adults, indicating that ascr#3-experienced animals form a long-lasting memory or imprint of this early ascr#3 exposure [8]. ascr#3 imprinting is mediated by increased synaptic activity between the ascr#3-sensing ADL neurons and their post-synaptic SMB motor neuron partners via increased expression of the odr-2 glycosylated phosphatidylinositol (GPI)-linked signaling gene in the SMB neurons. Our study suggests that the memory for early ascr#3 experience is imprinted via alteration of activity of a single synaptic connection, which in turn shapes experience-dependent plasticity in adult ascr#3 responses.

Studying genetic structure and diversity of viruses is important to understand the evolutionary mechanisms that generate and maintain variations in viral populations. Cucumber mosaic virus (CMV) is endemic in most pepper fields in Korea. Currently, no effective methods for control of CMV are available due to many environmental and biological factors such as the extensive evolutionary capacity of CMV. Thus, analyzing the genetic structure of CMV populations may facilitate the development of strategies for the control of CMV. In this study, 252 pepper (Capsicum annuum) samples showing virus symptoms were collected by field surveys performed throughout Korea in 2007. Reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction analyses revealed that, in total, 165 collected samples were infected with CMV. Forty-five CMV isolates were randomly selected within each regional subpopulation and analyzed by full-genome sequencing. Analyses of genetic diversity showed that the 2b gene of CMV is under weaker purifying selection than the other genes. Based on the phylogenetic analysis of RNA1, the CMV isolates from pepper were divided into three clusters in subgroup I. Our full-genome sequence-based molecular analyses of the CMV Korean population suggest that the subpopulations of CMV have been geographically localized in pepper fields in Korea.

Crop Protection Division, National Academy of Agricultural Science, Suwon 441-707, Korea(Received on October 9, 2013; Revised on November 4, 2013; Accepted on November 7, 2013)Tomato spotted wilt virus (TSWV) was occurred at 8 areas including Naju, Suncheon, Younggwang, Youngam,and Shinan in Jeonnam province and the crops of Younggwang were severely damaged by TSWV. The hotpepper (Capsicum annuum), bell pepper (Capsicum annuum va .r angulosum) and tomato (Solanumlycopersicon) in greenhouse and hot pepper in open field were infected by TSWV. Especially, hot pepper wasseverely damaged by TSWV infection. The survey data indicated that 1.1 −30% in the nursery field at Naju,Suncheon, and Jangheung were infected by TSWV. Plants were infected by TSWV from early June toAugust. However, TSWV-infected seedlings from nursery fields showed the disease symptoms from May aftertransplanting. In pepper greenhouses, Frankliniella occidentalis was more dominant insect vector thanFrankliniella intonsa. But in open field, the population of insect vector was opposed to greenhouse. Inaddition, the removal of weeds was able to delay the incidence of TSWV via side-window of greenhouse inWinter. Taken together, the control of weed and insect vector nearby side-window of greenhouse is importantto prevent TSWV infection of plants.Keywords : Frankliniella occidentalis, Hot pepper, Tomato spotted wilt virus

A disease, supposedly caused by a virus, was observed from Insam (Panax ginseng) fields of Punggi in year 2006. It has long believed to be a physiological disorder. However, the incidence of the disease has increased every year. When several samples were observed under electron microscope, filamentous virus-like particles were observed. The nucleotide sequences of the virus were analyzed by RT-PCR with specific primer sets derived from the results of DNA chip. The results indicated that the disease was caused by Watermelon mosaic virus (WMV). It revealed that the result of the biological assay by the virus was different from that of WMV previously found in other crops. Therefore, this is the first report that WMV causes the disease in P. ginseng and the virus is named to be WMV-Insam.

The incidence of Broad bean wilt virus 2 (BBWV2) on red pepper was investigated using the samples obtained from 24 areas of 8 provinces in Korea. Two hundred and five samples (79%) out of 260 collected samples were found to be infected with BBWV2. While the single infection rate of BBWV2 was 21.5%, the co-infection rate of BBWV2 with Cucumber mosaic virus, Pepper mottle virus, Pepper mild mottle virus and/or Potato virus Y was 78.5%. To characterize the genetic diversity of BBWV2 Korean isolates, 7 isolates were fully sequenced and analyzed. Phylogenetic analyses revealed that BBWV2 isolates could be divided largely into two groups as Group I and Group II. Based on the partial sequence analyses, 153 selected BBWV2 isolates were subgrouped into GS-I (21.6%), GS-II (3.9%) and GS-III (56.9%). BBWV2 GS-III, which was predominant in Korea, appears to be a new combination between Group I RNA-1 and Group II RNA-2. Viral disease incidence of BBWV2 on red pepper was under 2% before 2004. However, the incidence was increased abruptly to 41.3% in 2005, 58.2% in 2006 and 79% in 2007. These rapid increases might be related with the emergence of new combinations between BBWV2 groups.

The incidence factors of Rice stripe virus (RSV) were analyzed by studying the population density and the viruliferous insect rate (VIR) of small brown planthopper (SBPH), the incidence of stripe disease, alternate host, and susceptible cultivar in Chungnam Province. The population of overwintering SBPH had been decreasing, but the VIR of overwintering SBPH had not been differing for three years, 2008 to 2010. No RSV was detected in the natural host plants, such as short awn, annual bluegrass, and barley. In 2009, relatively large population of SBPH with the VIR of 5.4% migrated from China. However, there was no evidence relating of migration large amount of SBPH from China in 2008 and 2010. Also the infection rate of RSV in rice was less than 1% in these periods. The cultivation area of the susceptible varieties had steadily decreased from 41% to 19% from 2007 to 2009. Therefore, the reduction factors of rice stripe disease in Chungnam Province with higher influx of inoculum could be with an appropriate forecasting and chemical control, cultivation of resistant varieties, changes in the cropping system, and the low winter-spring temperature.

The full-genome sequences of fourteen isolates of Broad bean wilt virus 2 (BBWV2), collected from broad bean, pea, spinach, bell pepper and paprika plants in Korea during the years 2006–2012, were determined and analyzed comparatively along with fifteen previously reported BBWV2 genome sequences. Sequence analyses showed that RNA-1 and RNA-2 sequences of BBWV2 Korean isolates consisted of 5950–5956 and 3568–3604 nucleotides, respectively. Full-length genome sequence-based phylogenetic analyses revealed that the BBWV2 Korean isolates could be divided into three major groups comprising GS-I (isolates BB2 and RP7) along with isolate IP, GS-II (isolates BB5, P2, P3 and RP3) along with isolate B935, and GS-III including 16 BBWV2 Korean isolates. Interestingly, GS-III appears to be newly emerged and predominant in Korea. Recombination analyses identified two recombination events in the analyzed BBWV2 population: one in the RNA-1 of isolate K and another one in the RNA-2 of isolate XJ14-3. However, no recombination events were detected in the other 21 Korean isolates. On the other hand, out of 29 BBWV2 isolates, 16 isolates were found to be reassortants, of which each RNA segment (i.e. RNA1 and RNA2) was originated from different parental isolates. Our findings suggested that reassortment rather than recombination is a major evolutionary force in the genetic diversification of BBWV population in Korea.

National Institute of Horticultural and Herbal Science, Horticultural and Herbal Environmental Division,Suwon 441-707, Korea(Received on September 11, 2012; Revised on October 11, 2012; Accepted on October 12, 2012)The total number of requests and associated specimens for the diagnosis of virus infection were 573 and 2,992,respectively, on crops from agricultural places of farmers, Agricultural extension services and so forth for 5years from 2007. The total number of virus tests was 13,325. The number of species of viruses infected on thesubmitted crops was 21 in 2007, 15 in 2008, 23 in 2009, 21 in 2010 and 17 in 2011. The newly recorded viruseswere Tobacco leaf curl virus (TbLCV) in 2007, Tomato yellow leaf curl virus (TYLCV) in 2008, Impatiencenecrotic spot virus (INSV) and Radish mosaic virus (RaMV) in 2009, and Beet western yellows virus (BWYV) in2010. Forty virus species including Alfalfa mosaic virus were detected over 5 years. The ten most frequentlydetected virus species were Cucumber mosaic virus (CMV), Tomato spotted wilt virus (TSWV), Tomato leaf curlvirus (TYLCV), Cucumber green mottle mosaic virus (CGMMV), Broad bean wilt virus 2 (BBWV2), Zucchiniyellow mosaic virus (ZYMV), Melon necrotic spot virus (MNSV), Pepper mild mottle virus (PMMoV),Watermelon mosaic virus (WMV) and Pepper mottle virus (PepMoV). The types of crops submitted fromagricultural places were 51 in total and the ten most frequently submitted crops were red pepper, tomato,paprika, watermelon, melon, rice, cucumber, corn, radish and gourd. The total request rate for the top 10crops and top 20 crops was 81.6% and 94.2%, respectively. Eight pepper infecting virus species includedCMV, and the average infection rate was 24.6% for CMV, 18.9% for PMMoV and 14.7% for TSWV. Sevenkinds of double infection were detected in pepper including BBWV2+CMV at 14.7% on average, and fourtypes of triple infection including BBWV2+CMV+PepMoV at 0.9% on average. Six virus species detected ontomato including TYLCV, and the average infection rate was 50.6% for TYLCV, 14.5% for TSWV and10.9% for Tobacco leaf curl virus (TbLCV). The mixed infection of CMV+TSWV on tomato was 3.9% onaverage and of Tomato mosaic virus (ToMV)+TYLCV was 0.4% on average. Five viruses detected onwatermelon included MNSV and the average infection rate was 37.0% for MNSV, 20.4% for CGMMV,18.1% for ZYMV and 17.8% for WMV. The mixed infection rate on watermelon was CMV+MNSV andWMV+ZYMV having an average infection rate of 0.7% and 5.0%, respectively. The average infection rateson melon were 77.6% for MNSV, 5.6% for CMV and 3.3% for WMV. Mixed infections of CMV+MNSVoccurred on melon with an average infection rate of 13.5%. Keywords : BBWV2, BWVY, CGMMV, CMV, MNSV, Plant virus, TYLCV, ZYMV

A total of 94 tomato accessions were evaluated for the resistance to tomato spotted wilt virus (TSWV) using a Sw5-2 SCAR marker and bioassay. PCR products of the marker were approximately 574 bp, 500 bp, and 462 bp, among which the longest was linked to TSWV resistance allele of Sw5-b. This allele was only found in three accessions (09-438, 10-318, and 10-321) in which some individuals showed apparent recovery or stem necrosis symptom to a tomato isolate of TSWV-pb1. Thirty-five individuals (one per each accession) which were non-infected by ELISA were selected for further observation. Among these, 26 individuals that did not show any symptom at 5 months after inoculation were confirmed for viral infection by RT-PCR. TSWV-specific PCR amplicon was weakly detected in all 26 individuals including ‘Eureta’, a commercial F 1 possessing the resistance allele of Sw5-b. The resistant genes in the selected individuals may play an important role for reducing the viral concentration in tissues of inoculated tomato plants and seems to be quantitatively controlled by several factors including Sw5-b gene.

The kinds of crop requested from agricultural actual places of famers, Agricultural extension services and soforth was 8 including red pepper for vegetables, 4 including apple for fruit trees and 6 includingchrysanthemum for flowers in 2010. The important vegetables in clinical diagnosis of viral diseases weretomato, watermelon and red pepper having the requested rate of 31.8%, 21.4% and 19.5%, respectively. Onfruit trees, grape and apple were most common with the requested rate of 63.6% and 33.0%, orderly. Onfloral crops, tulip and cactus were damaged by viral diseases with the requested rate of 60.0% and 20.0%,orderly. On peppers and tomatoes, six viruses including Cucumber mosaic virus (CMV) and Broad bean wiltvirus 2 (BBWV2) infected. Five viruses including Melon necrotic spot virus (MNSV) and CMV were identifiedfrom watermelons. On grapes, six viruses including Grapevine fleck virus (GFkV) infected. CMV wasidentified from six vegetables including pepper out of 8 kinds of vegetables and tulip plant. Total agents ofvirus and viroid species were 32 and 4 species, respectively, in 2010. Tomato yellow leaf curl disease by Tomatoyellow leaf curl virus and Tobacco yellow leaf curl virus was occurred newly at 18 Si/Gun areas including Buan,Jeonbuk province in 2010 and the total areas were increased up to 58 Si/Gun from the first incidence in 2008.Tomato spotted wilt virus (TSWV) occurred newly at two areas of Jinan, Jeonbuk and Jeju in Jeju province in2010, and the incidence areas were expanded to 25 Si/Gun areas from severe occurrence at Anyang area in2004. No incidence of TSWV was recorded only in Gyeongbuk and Chungbuk province. Tomato bushy stuntvirus occurred newly at Jinju, Gyeongnam, and it had the total incidence areas of 5 Si/Gun after firstobservation at Sacheon, Gyeongnam in 2004.

Tomato yellow leaf curl virus (TYLCV), a member of genus Begomovirus, was isolated in Korea in 2008. We sequenced and analyzed the DNA-A of 51 TYLCV isolates from Korea, and 13 of the TYLCV isolates were selected as type representatives of TYLCV from six Korean provinces. The 13 TYLCV isolates were classified into Korea Group 1 (KG1, nine isolates) and Korea Group 2 (KG2, four isolates) based on the results of phylogenetic analysis and genome size (2774 and 2781 nucleotides, respectively). A recombination detection program 3 (RDP3) revealed two recombinations between the TYLCV Korea isolates and other TYLCV isolates [Thailand (AF206674), Iran (AJ132711), and Israel (X76319)]. TYLCV Jeju isolate was characterized by two recombination events (E1 and E2) caused by the presence of E1 in ORF V1 and C3, which may seem to be the mutations of the high nucleotide transversion and transition rate. Collectively, our results suggest that the occurrence of nucleotide transversions and transitions in TYLCV DNA-A might have induced novel recombination events within the TYLCV Korea isolates.

Throughout the years 2008 to 2010, we analyzed approximately two thousand oriental melon samples collected from Seongju, using electron microscopy and testing by RT-PCR using primers specific for eight cucurbit-infecting viruses. Data from RT-PCR indicated that Cucumber green mottle mosaic virus (CGMMV), Watermelon mosaic virus 2 (WMV2) and Zucchini yellow mosaic virus (ZYMV) were present and the other viruses were not detected. Among them, CGMMV and WMV2 were the most prevalent pathogens. CGMMV was thought to infect oriental melon from the early growing season, and reached nearly 100% in the later of growing period. Otherwise, WMV2 emerged from June, several months later compared to CGMMV. CGMMV was detected from all aerial parts of the oriental melon including seeds, but not from the roots of the grafted pumpkin rootstock. Seed of two out of five commercial varieties were shown to be CGMMV positive. Nine varieties of pumpkins used as rootstocks were not infected with CGMMV. When the seedlings of grafted oriental melon were transplanted into pots mixed with the oriental melon debris infected with CGMMV, they were not infected by CGMMV. Cutting of pruning shear and the contact of tendrils contributed 48% and 30% to the transmission of the virus, respectively.

In order to detect quarantine plant viruses, we developed reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) primer pairs for five single-stranded (ss) plant RNA viruses that are not currently reported in Korea but could be potential harmful plant viral pathogens. Three viruses such as Chilli veinal mottle virus (ChiVMV), Colombian datura virus (CDV), and Tobacco etch virus (TEV) belong to the genus Potyvirus while Chrysanthemum stem necrosis virus (CSNV) and Iris yellow spot virus (IYSV) are members of the genus Tospovirus. To design RT-PCR primers, we used reported gene sequences corresponding to the capsid protein and polyprotein for ChiVMV, CDV, and TEV while using nucleocapsid protein regions for CSNV and IYSV. At least two different primer pairs were designed for each virus. Fifteen out of 16 primer pairs were successfully applied in detection of individual quarantine virus with high specificity and efficiency. Taken together, this study provides a rapid and useful protocol for detection of five quarantine viruses.

Virus diseases occurring on cucumber was surveyed at main plantation areas of ``Sangju`` and ``Gurye`` in 2006 and 2007. Viral infection rate on cucumber was ranged from 14% to 90% in fields and the average infection rate was 46% at Sangju area. Cucumber cultivated at Gurye area had viral incidence ranged 9-100% and averaged 48%. The majorly infected viruses were Cucumber green mottle mosaic virus, Zucchini yellow mosaic virus, Papaya ring spot virus and Watermelon mosaic virus-2, and their infection rates were 23.5%, 13.0%, 9.0% and 2.0%, respectively in 2006 and 2007. Mixed infection rate of duplex, triplex and tetraplex was 31.5%, 7.5% and 2.5%, respectively. The rate of infection type was 47.7% by single infection, 31.5% by double infection and 88.7% by both infection types. Important viruses involved in mixed infection types were Zucchini yellow mosaic virus, Cucumber green mottle mosaic virus, Papaya ring spot virus and Broad been wilt virus2, orderly. Symptom in single infection was almost same on ``Dadagi`` line and ``Chicheong`` line of cucumber cultivars. Cucumber green mottle mosaic virus produced various symptoms of chlorotic spot, vein chlorosis and vein wrinkle and so on. Main symptoms of vein chlorosis, and severe mosaic and malformation were induced by Zucchini yellow mosaic virus. Mild symptoms were occurred relatively by Papaya ring spot virus and Watermelon mosaic virus2.

New strains of Tobacco leaf curl virus (TbLCV) were isolated from tomato plants in four different local communities of Korea, and hence were designated TbLCV-Kr. Phylogenetic analysis of the sequences of the whole genome and of individual ORFs of these viruses indicated that they are closely related to the Tobacco leaf curl Japan virus (TbLCJV) cluster, which includes Honeysuckle yellow vein virus (HYVV), Honeysuckle yellow vein mosaic virus (HYVMV), and TbLCJV isolates. Four putative recombination events were recognized within these virus sequences, suggesting that the sequence variations observed in these viruses may be attributable to intraspecific and interspecific recombination events involving some TbLCV-Kr isolates, Papaya leaf curl virus (PaLCV), and a local isolate of Tomato yellow leaf curl virus (TYLCV).

Department of Agricultural Biology, National Academy of Agricultural Science, Rural Development Administration, Suwon 441-707, Korea(Received on March 22, 2011; Accepted on April 11, 2011)Our previous sequence and phylogenetic analyses ofthe Korean Rice stripe virus (RSV) suggested possiblegenetic reassortment of RNA segments, but whether thisRNA variation contributed to the recent RSV outbreaksin Korea is yet unclear. To further clarify these RSV-RNA segment variations, we developed a reverse tran-scription-polymerase reaction/restriction enzyme (RT-PCR/RE) analysis-based method. We identified fiveREs, including DraI, EcoR1, NdeI/AseI, and SpeI, thatcould differentiate RSV RNA 1–4 subtypes, respectively.Our RT-PCR/RE results provided a clear pattern ofRNA reassortment, i.e., different groups of isolates havingtheir RNA segments derived from two to three differentRSV ancestors, such as from Eastern and SouthwesternChinese or Japanese M and T isolates. We also foundthat the migratory small brown planthopper from EasternChina caught by aerial net traps that possesses RSV-RNA3 genotypes corresponds mainly to Eastern China,with a few for Southwestern China based on RT-PCR/RE, sequence and phylogenetic analyses, indicating thatRSV populations in Eastern China may also have strongRNA variation. The development of an RE analysis-based method proved a useful epidemiological tool forrapid genotyping and identification of mixed infectionsby RSV strain and by different subtype.Keywords : genotyping, genetic structure, phylogeneticrelationships, restriction enzyme analysis, Rice stripe virusThe genome of Rice stripe virus (RSV), the prototypemember of the genus Tenuivirus, consists of four ssRNAs,with a total genome size of about 23 kb (Fig. 1; Toriyamaand Tomaru, 1995). RNA1 is the largest segment, havingnegative sense, while the other three segments are ambisense,whereby a single protein is encoded at the 5 proximal endin viral (v) and viral complementary (vc) RNA strands(Hamamatsu et al., 1993; Takahashi et al., 1993; Zhu et al.,1991, 1992). The RSV genome has a total of seven proteinsand most of their functions are known, except for NS2coded in vRNA2. The function of proteins coded in vcRNA1,vcRNA2, vcRNA3, and vRNA4 have long been known asRNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRp; Toriyama et al.,1994), glycoprotein-membrane protein (Takahashi et al.,1993), nucleocapsid protein, and noncapsid protein ordisease-specific protein (Kakutani et al., 1990; Zhu et al.,1992), respectively. However, proteins coded in vRNA3and vcRN4 were only recently reported as suppressors ofposttranscriptional gene silencing (PTGS; Hemmes et al.,2007) and movement protein (Xiong et al., 2008), respec-tively. RSV-infected plants usually show chlorotic stripes on theleaves and stunted growth, while severely infected seedl-ings are lethal. The virion morphology of the causal virushas circular filament and is actively and persistently trans-mitted by the small brown planthopper (SBPH) Laodelphaxstriatellus (Koganezawa, 1977). RSV outbreaks have alsooccurred in China, Japan, Taiwan, and the former USSR(Hibino, 1996). For insect transmitted viruses like RSV, its spread is mainlydependent on vector migration. In a previous study on theNilaparvata lugens (Stal), migration processes in Korea usingthe boundary layer atmospheric model and a geographicinformation system showed that the main source of insectsimmigrated into South Korea in the early part of June werefrom the Eastern part of China (Zhu et al., 2000). China andJapan are in close proximity to Korea, and reports show thatChina has a longer history of RSV outbreaks than Japan (Weiet al., 2009). During 2007−2009, RSV had burgeoning incidences thatcaused significant yield losses, posing an enigma to ricegrowers and many rice scientists in South Korea. The cause

In 2005, a survey was conducted to identify virus diseases on victory onion, Allium victorialis var. platyphyllum grown in Ulleung island located in the East Sea. A total of 61 samples were collected from victory onion in the neighborhood of Seonginbong. The identification of viruses from the samples were carried out by electron microscopy and RT-PCR using primers species specific to GCLV, LYSV, SLV, OYDV and genus specific to Allexivirus, respectively. From sixty-one samples, filamentous rod particles (600-900 nm) were detected from four victory onion samples in EM, three samples containing SLV and one sample containing both SLV and Allexivirus in RT-PCR analysis, respectively. Victory onions naturally infected by the viruses were asymptomatic apparently. The viruses detected by RT-PCR were further characterized by the nucleotide sequence analysis of the coat protein region. Three isolates of SLV showed approximately 99% identities in the nucleotide and amino acid sequences, suggesting that they were likely to be the same strain. On the other hand, they showed approximately 75.7~83.7% identities in the nucleotide and 89.2~97.0% in amino acid sequences compared with the previously reported SLV isolates in Allium. The CP gene of the Allexivirus showed approximately 99.2% nucleotide identities and 98.8% amino acid identities with Garlic virus A. However, there was relatively low homology ranging from 60.6% to 81.5% compared with other Allexiviruses (GarV-C, GarV-E, GarV-X, GMbMV, and Shal-X). These data suggested that two viruses, SLV and GarV-A identified from victory onion, are named SLV-Ulleungdo and GarV-A-Ulleungdo, respectively. This is the first report of viruses infecting victory onion.

Rice stripe virus (RSV) is one of serious epidemic pathogens for rice species grown in many Asian countries. Therefore, it is necessary to produce a diagnostic detection kit applicable in fields for RSV detection. In this study, RSV proteins that were derived from recombinant proteins and synthetic polypeptides as antigens were generated and were raised in rabbits for antiserum production. Among seven proteins in RSV, genes that code for NCP and NS3 proteins were cloned and subcloned into vector carrying His-tag protein and were expressed in E. coli. Of two recombinant proteins, only anti-NCP displayed stable hybridization signals in western blot analysis. Alternately, synthetic RSV polypeptides for CP, NCP, NS3 and NSvc4 we also generated and only antibodies against CP and NCP were very effective to detect RSV in both RSV infected rice and weed plants. However, antibodies against NS3 and NSvc4 showed weak specific bands as well as strong non-specific background due to the difference of viral proteins produced in the infected leaves. In summary, the antibodies generated against RSV proteins produced in this study will be useful for various assays such as for RSV diagnostic detection, immunoprecipitation, protein purification, and western blot analysis.

A tobamovirus, Ribgrass mosaic virus (RMV), was identified newly from chinese cabbage (Brassica campestris L. pekinensis) in Korea. Virus disease incidence of RMV on chinese cabbage was 37.9% in alpine area on August in 1993. RMV induced the symptoms of necrotic ring spots, necrotic streak on midrib and malformation. RMV, Ca1 and Ca3 isolate, could infect 35 species out of 45 plants including Chenopodium amaranticolor. Physical properties of RMV Ca1 isolate were very stable as 10.8 over for dilution end point, for temperature inactivation point and 18 weeks for longevity in vitro. RMV had the soil transmission rate of 75.0% for the chinese cabbages, `Chunhawang` and `Seoul` cultivars. The purified virions of RMV had the typical ultraviolet absorption spectrum of maximum at 260 nm and minimum at 247 nm. RMV of Ca1 isolate was related serologically with antisera of Tobacco mosaic virus (TMV)-Cym, TMV-O and Pepper mottle virus, but not related with antiserum of Odontoglossum ring spot virus. coat protein gene of RMV-Ca1, sized 473 nucleotides, encoded 158 amino acid residues. Nucleotide identity of RMV-Ca1 CP gene was 96.4% with RMV-Shanghai (GenBank accession No. of AF185272) from China and 96.0% with RMV-Impatiens (GenBank accession No. of AM040974) from Germany. Identity of amino acids between RMV-Ca1 and the two RMV isolates was 96.8%. Specific three primers were selected for rapid and easy genetic detection of RMV using Virion Captured (VC)/RT-PCR method.

Tomato spotted wilt virus (TSWV) was occurred on the three vegetables of egg plant (Solanum melongena), whole radish (Raphanus acanthiformis) and sugar loaf (Cichorium intybus) at Anyang area infested with TSWV. Whole radish was produced the symptoms of necrotic spots on the leaves, and necrosis and malformation on the roots by TSWV. Egg plant was induced the symptoms of typical multiple ring spots on the leaves and necrotic rings on the fruits. Sugar loaf was infected severely with the typical symptoms of ring spots on the leaves and stunt. The three isolates of TSWV could infect locally on the indicator plants of Chenopodium amaranticolor, C. quinoa and Nicotiana debney, and systemically on N. glutinosa, N. benthamiana and Datura stramonium. Two TSWV isolates from egg plant and sugar loaf were very similar in virulence. However, the virulence of TSWV from whole radish was very different as local infection on 5 Nicotiana species including N. tabacum `Xanthi NC`.

Among the plant specimens requested from agricultural actual places of farmers, Agency of agricultural extension services and so forth for the diagnosis of plant virus diseases in 2009, the rate of crop types was 87.5% for vegetables, 4.0% for upland crops and 3.5% for orchids. In vegetables, the crops damaged severely by viral diseases were red pepper and tomato by the infection rate of 51.6% and 26.5%, orderly. Virus species occurring vegetables were 19 and the economically important viruses were Cucumber mosaic virus (CMV), Tomato spotted wilt virus (TSWV), Tomato yellow leaf curl virus (TYLCV), Pepper mild mottle virus (PMMoV) with the infection rate of 33.2%, 16.9%, 16.1% and 7.4%, respectively. Rice stripe virus (RSV) occurred at the whole areas of west coast in Korea in 2009, and its incidence was 14.2% mainly on the susceptible cultivars and yield loss was estimated up to 50%. TYLCV was spread at 34 areas of Si and/or Gun, 22 areas in 2009 and 12 in 2008. Distribution of TSWV was expanded newly in 6 areas of Si and/or Gun including Gangryung, Gangwondo in 2009, and its occurrence areas were 23 Si and/or Gun after first incidence at Anyang area in 2004. Tomato bushy stunt virus (TBSV) was incited newly at Gimcheon area in 2009 with the infection rate of 65.2%, and its soil transmission rate was 55.0% in average.

Department of Plant Medicine, Chungbuk National University, Cheongju 361-763, Korea(Received on December 21, 2009; Accepted on February 15, 2010)A virus isolate causing symptoms of yellow mosaic, fernleaves, malformation and plant necrosis on Rudbeckiabicolor was prevalent around Pyeongchang area inKorea. The causal virus was identified as Cucumbermosaic virus (CMV) using characteristics from bio-logical, serological and molecular analyses and namedas CMV-Rb. CMV-Rb caused mosaic on Nicotianabenthamiana, N. tabacum, Capsicum annuum, and Lyco-persicon esculentum. However, typical local lesions didnot develop on inoculated Pisum sativum, Cucurbitamoschata, Datura stramonium and Tetragonia expansaplants. Full-length genome sequences of CMV-RbRNAs 1, 2 and 3 were obtained using 12 primer pairs byRT-PCR analysis. The genome of CMV-Rb RNA seg-ments 1, 2, and 3 consists of 3363nt, 3049nt, and 2214ntin length, respectively. In order to ascertain their taxo-nomic identity, nucleotide and the deduced amino acidsequence analyses RNAs 1, 2 and 3 of CMV-Rb isolateswere conducted with previously reported sequences ofCMV strains and/or isolates. CMV-Rb RNAs showedabout 90 to 99% sequence identity to those of subgroupI strains suggesting that CMV-Rb is more closely relat-ed to CMV isolates belong to subgroup I. To our know-ledge, this is the first report of CMV on Rudbeckiabicolor in Korea.Keywords : CMV-Rb, phylogenetic analyses, Rudbeckiabicolor, subgroup ICucumber mosaic virus (CMV), the type member of thegenus Cucumovirus, infects more than 1,000 species ofplants and induces the typical mosaic symptoms in manyhost plants. Some of the intermediate symptoms, however,include blight, fernleaf, ringspot, and stunt. In Korea, atleast 109 natural host plant species has been reported, i.e.,20 in upland crops, 20 in vegetable crops, 28 in floral crops,acacia in wood, 40 in wild plants (List of plant disease inKorea, 2004, The Korean Society of Plant Pathology).Recently, CMV infections were also reported on Hydrangeamacrophylla (Lee et al., 2001), water chickweed (Choi etal., 2004), Isodon inflexus Kudo, Jeffersonia dubia Benth,Phryma leptostachya var. asiatica Hara (Lee et al., 2008).However, no natural outbreaks by CMV have been reportedon Rudbeckia bicolor, but Bidens mottle virus (BiMoV)was only identified (Brunt et al., 1996; Choi, 2001; Jin,2003; Lee, 1981; Lee et al., 2003; Logan et al., 1984).The genome of CMV consists of three genomic RNAs(RNA 1, 2 and 3; Roossinck, 2001). In infected host plants,it also produces two subgenomic RNAs (4 and 4A; Palukaitiset al., 1992). Based upon biological, serological, and, mole-cular biological characteristics of CMV isolates, they wereclassified into two subgroups, i.e., subgroup I and II (Owenand Palukaitis, 1988). The nucleotide sequence identitybetween subgroup I and II isolates range from 69 to 77%,while showing above 90% nucleotide sequence identitywithin each subgroup isolates. More detailed nucleotidesequence analyses, especially with the coat protein (CP)and 5' nontranslated region (NTR) of RNA 3 further sug-gested subdivision of subgroup I into subgroups IA and IB(Roossinck et al., 1999). This subgrouping was more clear-ly supported from the analysis of nucleotide sequences of1a and 3a open reading frames (ORFs) than those of the 2aand CP ORFs (Roossinck, 2002). In this paper, we reportthe biological and serological characteristics as well ascomplete nucleotide sequence analyses of CMV-Rb isolate.We believe this is the first report of natural CMV infectionon Rudbeckia bicolor in Korea.Pinewood coneflower (R. bicolor), family Asteraceae, iswidely grown as an ornamental crop and a wildflower. In2005, we could easily observe yellow mosaic, sometimes

We investigated the effect of the infection times and infection degrees at transplanting time of Zucchini yellow mosaic virus (ZYMV) on the growth and yield of cucumber plants at the semi-forcing and the retarding culture in 2007. When cucumber was inoculated with ZYMV at transplanting time, 15, 30, 45, 60, and 75 days after transplanting, vine length, internode length, number of leaf of the plants and marketable yield largely decreased as the cucumber infected earlier. The regression models were obtained between the disease incidence levels at 20 days after transplanting as the inoculation degrees and the marketable yield of cucumber: y

Genetic diagnosis method of Virion Captured (VC)/RT-PCR for Rice stripe virus (RSV) and Rice black-streaked dwarf virus (RBSDV), Korean major rice viruses transmitted by small brown plant hopper, Laodelphax striatellus, was developed. Virion extraction buffer for rice plant was 0.01M potassium phosphate buffer, pH 7.0, containing 0.5% sodium sulfite. However, the extraction buffer for L. striatellus was 0.01M potassium phosphate buffer, pH 7.0, containing 0.5% sodium sulfite and 2% polyvinylpyrrolidone wt 40,000 (PVP-40). Specific primers for detection of RSV and RBSDV were selected for VC/RT-PCR method. The specific primers were used as a duplex primer to detect viruliferous small brown plant hopper collected from Gimpo, Pyeongtaek and Siheung areas in Gyeonggi province. The genetic diagnosis methods of single and duplex VC/RT-PCR for RSV and RBSDV could be used easily and economically, especially on the diagnosis of L. striatellus. The rate of viruliferous insect (RVI) for RSV was compared with ELISA and VC/RT-PCR for L. striatellus collected from fields. RVI by ELISA was same as 9.2% with RVI by VC/RT-PCR. However, there were some different detection results between the methods. It could be suggested that there is a possibility of serological and/or genomic differences among RSV isolates. The portion of RVI detected simultaneously by ELISA and VC/RT-PCR was 71.0%, and the detection rate from VC/RT-PCR was higher as 3.2% than that from ELISA, which had a reason of simultaneous detection ability both RSV and RBSDV of VC/RT-PCR.

The complete genome sequences of RNA3 and RNA4 of the 13 different Rice stripe virus (RSV) isolates were determined and characterized in this study to address the possible causes of the recent re-emergence of RSV that affected many rice fields in Korea. The genome size of each RNA segment varied among isolates and significant differences were observed in the intergenic region. There was up to 4% average divergence in the RNA4 nucleotide sequence among 13 Korean isolates and only 1.4% in the RNA3. Phylogenetic relationships among different Korean isolates revealed that there were at least 2 types of RNA3 and 4 distinct types of RNA4 genomes present in Korea. However, Korean isolates with one type of RNA3 predominate over the other while the occurrences of the RSV Korean isolates with the 4 types of RNA4 genome were not correlated to specific geographical areas. Results further indicate that RNA4 had diverged more than RNA3 and these differences in accumulation of mutations in the individual RNA segments indicate that genetic reassortment were likely to contribute to the genetic divergence in the 13 Korean isolates. All of the Korean-RNA3 sequences except for one isolate grouped with Chinese isolates (JY and Z). In contrast, the RNA 4 sequences segregated together with either Chinese (JY and Z) and Japanese (M and T) isolates but genetic relationships of Korean isolates- RNAs 3 and 4 segments to Chinese-Y isolate were low. Altogether, these results suggest that the occurrence of mixtures of RNAs 3 and 4 genotypes in the natural population of RSV may have contributed to the sudden outbreak in Korea.

Viruses diagnosed on crops including rice plants from farmers or agricultural extension agencies cover the country were 11 species including Broad bean wilt virus 2 (BBWV2) in 2008. Tomato spotted wilt virus (TSWV) was the most important virus having the detection rate of 22.9%. Two viruses of Tomato yellow leaf curl virus (TYLCV) and Tobacco leaf curl virus (TLCV) inducing leaf yellow and curl diseases on tomatoes were occurred newly with the detection rate of 12.2% and 4.0%, respectively, in 2008. Rice stripe virus (RSV) was occurred on 869.5 ha mainly at Jindo and Haenam areas in Jeollanamdo province. At Jindo area, 12 plots were damaged severely with the infected hill rate of 83.8%. At the main production area of oriental melon at Seongju, almost all fruits from whole sale market at Seongju were infected with Cucumber green mottle mosaic virus (CGMMV) as the detection rate of 87%. The areas occurred TSWV in Korea were 25 totally from 2003 including 7 areas newly reported in 2008 including Naju in Jeoallanamdo. TSWV could be reduced as 0.1 % from 5.3% by covering insect proof net in vinyl house after chemical soil sterilization. Tomato yellow leaf curl disease was occurred on April in 2008 at Tongyoung area in Kyeongsangnamdo, and detected continuously at 13 areas, 7 in Kyeongsangnamdo, 4 in Jeollabukdo and 2 in Jejudo. Potato spindle tuber viroid (PSTVd) was occurred abruptly in a confined space of a civil breeding greenhouse and a cultivar evaluation field followed by disuse 17.4 M/T of potato tubers. No PSTVd was detected at 17 fields cultivated the related potatoes to the bred company by RT-PCR.

An infectious full-length clone of Soybean mosaic virus (SMV) strain G5H was constructed under the control of the cauliflower mosaic virus 35S promoter. The cloned SMV G5H established infections upon simple rub-inoculation of soybean leaves with intact plasmid DNA. We demonstrated that this SMV G5H infectious DNA clone caused typical characteristic symptoms and virulence of SMV strain G5H in twelve tested soybean cultivars. Soybean cultivars Lee74, Somyungkong and Sowonkong developed systemic mosaic symptom while Kwanggyo, Taekwangkong, Hwangkeumkong and Geumjeongkong-l showed systemic necrosis. In contrast, Geumjeongkong-2, Jinpumkong-2, L29, V94-5152 and Ogden showed resistant response against SMV-G5H infection. We also determined full-length sequence of cloned SMV-G5H. The phyogenetic analyses reveal that SMV-G5H is most closely related to SMV-G5, and support that SMV-G5H might be derived from SMV-G5 by recombination rather than mutation.

The incidence and occurrence of virus infecting paprika (Capsicum annuum var. grossum) in Jeonnam province, the main areas of cultivation in Korea is undetermined. In this study, a total of 1,020 samples with virus-like symptoms were collected in Jeonnam province during summer season for 3 consecutive years (2002-2005) and were tested using enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Results showed that Pepper mottle virus (PepMoV), Broad bean wilt virus (BBWV), and Cucumber mosaic virus (CMV) were found to be the most prevalent viruses with a 3-year average percent incidence of 41.3, 19.8, and 4.4 respectively. Mixed infection with more than two viruses was also found with 3.5%, 17.0%, and 8.3%, respectively. Symptoms of these virus diseases were not evident at the seedling stage but slowly appeared at the transplanting stage and increased to the middle stage (4-5 months after transplanting) during the 3-year cultivation periods. Symptom appearance of infected plants however varied largely with transplanting time. Those plants transplanted from November to January were found to be infected with viruses in June, whereas symptoms appeared with in a month those plants transplanted from June to August. There were differences in the virus incidence from primary factor such as district, type of green house and variety, but these were not statistically significant (data not shown). Recommended control measures of paprika against these viruses is also discussed in this paper.

Tomato yellow leaf curl virus (TYLCV), a newly reported Geminivirus from tomato, generated recently large economic losses in Korea. Development of a fast and precise genetic diagnosis technique for detecting TYLCV which Agricultural research and extension services can utilize easy and handy is very important to prevent yield losses. Virion Capture (VC)/PCR is a simple, accurate and economical genetic detection method without any works or commercial kits for the extraction of the nucleic acid from the infected plants. Primers of twenty two for detection of TYLCV were designed and tested with extracted total DNA or crude sap from tomato leaf infected with TYLCV and healthy plant. Nine primers for total DNA using conventional PCR and another 9 primers for VC/PCR were selected eventually. Primers of six having same specificity were selected from the two methods and tested with other Geminivirus, Tobacco leaf curl virus (TLCV) by VC/PCR. Finally specific primers of four were selected for detection of TYLCV using VC/PCR, and Deng (540, 541), a degenerate primer for Geminivirus reported in 1996, was also developed for VC/PCR.

The transient and rapid expression system of a foreign protein in planta is a very useful technique in biotechnology application. We have investigated optimum condition of Agrobacterium-infiltration technique in which expression level of foreign proteins were maximized without detrimental effects on plants using GFP and Cucumber mosaic virus 2b protein, which is known as an enhancer of gene expression and a suppressor of post-transcriptional gene silencing(PTGS). The optimum expression level of both RNA and protein of GFP with minimum leaf impairment was obtained at

A peculiar virus-like disease of tomato showing yellow mosaic and necrotic spots on leaves and necrosis on veins, petioles and stems was observed at the Tomato Experimental Station (TES), Buyeo, Chungcheongnamdo, Korea. The disease incidence at TES fields ranged from 21 to 35% infecting different tomato cultivars. For this reason, to identify the virus infecting tomato and to characterize the virus based on biology, serology, cytology and at molecular level. Here, leaf samples were randomly collected from different infected tomato cultivars at TES fields and greenhouses and tested by ELISA using Pepper mottle virus (PePMoV) and Tomato mosaic virus (ToMV) antisera. Infected saps were mechanically inoculated in different host plants to test for pathogenicity, symptomatology and host ranges. Infected tissues and ultrathin sections were examined by electron microscopy. Finally, putative coat protein and 3`-untranslated region (CP/3`-UTR) fragment was amplified and cloned for sequence determination and analyzed its genetic relationship to existing PepMoV and PVY sequences at the Genbank. Results showed 69% of the samples were positive with PepMoV, 13% with ToMV and 19 % were doubly infected with PepMoV and ToMV. Symptoms greatly varied from different host plants inoculated with tomato leaf sap infected with PepMoV alone and discussed in detailed in this paper. Electron microscopy from infected tissues showed filamentous particles of 720-750nm in length, a typical morphology and size of PepMoV. In addition, cylindrical inclusion bodies, pinwheels, scrolls and laminates with masses of fibrillar inclusions were also found in ultrathin sections. Alignment of the sequences of the CP/3`-UTR revealed >96% sequence identity with PepMoV and only

The severe damage induced by the important viruses of Rice stripe virus (RSV), Cucumber green mottle mosaic virus (CGMMV), Melon necrotic spot virus (MNSV), Tomato spotted wilt virus (TSWV) and Tomato bushy stunt virus (TBSV) was described on major crops in Korea. In 2007, the plot incidence rate of RSV was 100% on the precocious rice cultivars at the Western coastal provinces of Gyeonggido, Chungcheongnamdo, Jellabugdo and Jellanamdo, and Jejudo. RSV occurred in 2,441 ha with incidence rate of 70% over at 5 areas of Seocheon, Seosan, Boryung, Hongsung and Buyou in Chungcheongnamdo. At 4 areas of Buan, Gimje, Gunsan and Gochang in Jellabukdo, RSV occurred in 2.016 ha. CGMMV occurred on watermelon in 4.6 ha at Cheongyang area, and its outbreak was also 890 ha on oriental melon for 120 farmers with the incidence area of 23% against total cultivation areas of Seongju. MNSV was recorded firstly on watermelon in 2006 at Andong and it spread to 3 areas of Hapcheon, Gochang and Yanggu. TSWV occurred firstly at Danggin in Chungcheongnamdo in 2005. TSWV in 2006 spread to 6 areas; Taian, Hongsung and Seosan in Chungcheongnando, Namwon in Jellabukdo, and Sunchon and Kwangju in Jellanamdo. In 2007, TSWV covered 17 areas of western and southern parts; the 5 area including Taian in Chungcheongnamdo, Kwangju in Jellanamdo, Bucheon in Gyunggido, and so forth. TBSV was described firstly on table tomato at Sacheon in Kyungsangnamdo in 2004. TBSV occurred on cherry tomato at Chungju in 2006 and on table tomato at Busan area.

Interactions between viral proteins and host proteins are essential for virus replication. Especially, translation of viral genes completely depends on the host machinery. In potyviruses, interactions of genome-linked viral protein (VPg) with host translation factors including eIF4E, eIF(iso)4E, and poly(A)-binding protein (PABP) has previously been characterized. In this study, we investigated interactions between Soybean mosaic virus (SMV) viral proteins and host translation factors by yeast two-hybrid system. SMV VPg interacted with eIF4E, eIF(iso)4E, and PABP in yeast two-hybrid system, while SMV helper component proteinase (HC-pro) interacted with neither of those proteins. The interaction between SMV NIb and PABP was also detected. These results are consistent with those reported previously in other potyviruses. Interestingly, we found reproducible and specific interactions between SMV coat protein (CP) and PABP. Deletion analysis showed that the region of CP comprising amino acids 116 to 206 and the region of PABP comprising amino acids 520 to 580 are involved in CP/PABP interactions. Soybean library screening with SMV NIb by yeast two-hybrid assay also identified several soybean proteins including chlorophyll a/b binding preprotein, photo-system I-N subunit, ribulose 1,5-biphosphate carboxylase, ST-LSI protein, translation initiation factor 1, TIR-NBS type R protein, RNA binding protein, ubiquitin, and LRR protein kinase. Altogether, these results suggest that potyviral replicase may comprise a multi-protein complex with PABP, CP, and other host factors.

A new virus-like disease of tomato showing chlorotic spots, malformation and necrosis on leaves, and chlorotic blotching, rings, and necrosis on fruits was observed around Sacheon, Gyeongsangnam-do, Korea in 2004. Host range analysis could not differentiate 4 field isolates collected from tomatoes showing different symptoms but identified them as Tomato bushy stunt virus (TBSV). TBSV-tsf2 isolate induced symptoms in indicator plants similar to those caused by the TBSV-C, -S and -Nf. As the isolate could not systemically infect Chenopodium quinoa, the isolate might belong to the previously described TBSV-S isolate. TBSV-tsf2 isolate caused similar cytological alterations that were similar to that generally caused by previously reported TBSV isolates. TBSV-tsf2 isolate, however, could be considered to belong to new strain of TBSV because masses of small electron-dense patches that were not observed from the previously described TBSV. The complete nucleotide sequences of the genomic RNA of 4739 nt excluding non-translated sequences at both termini have been determined and compared to sequences of other TBSV strains. The complete nucleotide sequence identity among TBSV isolates was 98.9% to 99.7%, and to the other tombusviruses ranged from 80.8% to 94.9%. Comparison of the amino acid sequences all five ORFs with those of other TBSV strains shows a similar genomic organization, and high percentage of amino acid sequence homology with TBSV-Nf than TBSV-S isolate. Since the TBSV symptoms were only observed in Sacheon fields where imported seeds from Japan were planted, the TBSV incidence probably caused by the planting contaminated tomato seeds and thus require more through quarantine procedure to prevent settlement of TBSV in Korea. Altogether, these results support that the Korean isolate of TBSV infecting tomato might be new strain.