page 1

Iris Yellow Spot Virus (IYSV) is a damaging viral pathogen of onions. The disease can devastate an onion field by destroying the photosynthetic area of the leaves of infected plants (Fig. 1), thus reducing the ability of the plant to develop bulb size and directly affecting yield and grade of onions at harvest. Infected onions can overwinter and harbor the disease from one season to the next and serve as a reservoir of disease the following season. Several weed species have been implicated as hosts of the virus, but little is understood regarding their relationship to the development of IYSV outbreaks. In onion fields, IYSV is vectored, or carried, by the onion thrips (Thrips tabaci) from an infected host plant and the virus enters into a non-infected plant when the insect feeds. Once a plant is infected there is no control practice to eliminate it from the plant. Control of the disease is based on crop rotation, control of volunteer onion plants, weed control, and chemical and cultural control of the thrips that vector, or move, the virus.

What You Should Know

Iris Yellow Spot Virus in Onions

Utah Pest Factsheet

Kent Evans, Extension Plant Pathology SpecialistErin Frank, USU Plant Disease Diagnostician

Published by Utah State University Extension and Utah Plant Pest Diagnostic Laboratory Revised-April 2009 PLP-010-PR

Utah Pest Factsheet

Introduction

Symptoms

IYSV was first isolated and characterized from infected iris (Iris holandica) in the Netherlands in 1998 (Cortês et al., 1998); however, a tospovirus (likely IYSV) was detected in onions in North America in the late 1980s (Hall et al., 1993). The evidence suggests the IYSV disease may have been present and causing some level of damage in onions produced in North America, prior to 2000 (Schwartz and Gent, 2008). Published confirmation of when IYSV was

Fig. 2. A very attentive eye is needed to identify the earlier symptoms of IYSV infection in onions. Notice the sunken area (horizontal arrow) and the concentric rings (vertical arrows) indicating the development of early lesion symptoms.

Fig. 1. IYSV lesions on onion leaves often appear more elongated than wide and are often described as diamond shaped. Lesions can coalesce making unusual, irregular shaped, larger lesions that girdle a leaf and begin to kill it (see arrow on center plant).

first recognized in onions grown in Utah was in 2003 (Abad et al., 2003). IYSV belongs to the genus Tospovirus in the Bunyaviridae family of viruses, a large group of viruses that are vectored, or moved, by arthropods when they feed. The virus particles are protein enveloped RNA viruses. IYSV is vectored by the onion thrips (Thrips tabaci). Severity of IYSV is dependent upon effects of host cultivar and timing of infection relative to the age of host plants. Factors such as climate, plant nutrition, and proximity to suspect host weeds may also play a role in IYSV development, but their influences of weed hosts are undetermined to date. Several weed species have tested positive using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA, an antibody test that develops a color reaction to detect the presence of the virus), although fewer have been confirmed using the more sensitive polymerase chain reaction (PCR) tests. A list of Allium, other plants, and weed species, is summarized on page 4 of this fact sheet (Table 1).

Exactly how long IYSV lesion symptoms take to de-velop after a viruliferous (virus carrying) thrips feed upon, and thus inoculate what was a healthy plant, is not clear in onions. An observer will find a range of lesion types in an infected field of onions. These different lesion symptoms are likely influenced by host cultivar, timing of infection, amount of virus inoculated when feeding occurred, how many viruliferous thrips were feeding and for how long they fed, the nutrition of the host plant, and climatic factors. Early lesion symptoms often appear as a series of concen-tric rings of lighter and darker rings, often longer than they are wide, around a thrips feeding point (Fig. 2). We have also observed light green diamond-shaped lesions (Fig. 3). Concentric rings of green and straw colored necrosis occur also (Fig. 4), but the frequency of this lesion type is less

page 2

www.utahpests.usu.eduUPPDL, 5305 Old Main Hill, Logan UT 84322-5305 T: 435.797.2435 F: 435.797.8197

Fig. 3. As the IYSV disease progresses, concentric rings may, or may not, be present and often lesions become more pronounced, elon-gated, slightly sunken and lighter green colored.

Fig. 4. An IYSV lesion showing the concentric rings of straw colored necrosis and green around a lighter green island. In time this lesion will become totally necrotic.

Fig. 5. Multiple IYSV lesions becoming evident at one time. A leaf infected multiple times will likely develop a very severe infection with coalescing lesions leading to premature death of the leaf.

common. Often a severely infected leaf will show mul-tiple feeding points where several infections are becoming evident simultaneously and appear as light green diamond shaped areas (Fig. 5). Our experience has been that the more common tan necrotic lesion is observed at a much higher frequency than other unusual lesion types (Fig. 6). Often green islands can be observed within a necrotic lesion (Fig. 7). The significance of these different lesion types is unknown; however, the lesions can grow and co-alesce (Fig. 8). Eventually the lesions can girdle a leaf and kill it. Infected leaves then collapse. The net effect of the damage caused by IYSV is that it reduces green leaf area of the plant and causes a reduction in the ability of the plant to fill the onion bulb. This reduces the harvest yield and grade of onions, thus reducing profits a grower may obtain in years with severe IYSV. There are some diseases that can appear to be IYSV but are not (Fig. 9, Cladosporium leaf spot). Severely infected fields will senesce prematurely (Fig. 10), often turning the leaves brown as infected plants collapse and die prior to harvest.

Fig. 6. The most typical IYSV lesion we have observed has been the necrotic diamond-shaped lesion. These lesions can be small to very large. Larger lesions are not obviously diamond-shaped but tend to be longer, along the length of the leaf, than wider.

Fig. 7. Green islands of tissue can appear within a necrotic IYSV lesion. These types of lesions are less frequent than the tan, com-pletely necrotic, lesions.

page 3

UPPDL, 5305 Old Main Hill, Logan UT 84322-5305 T: 435.797.2435 F: 435.797.8197 www.utahpests.usu.edu

Fig. 8. An onion leaf with IYSV lesions that have coalesced and caused the premature death of the leaf.

Fig. 9. There are a few other diseases of onions that can mimic the symptoms of IYSV. For example, the diamond shaped lesions on this infected leaf are caused by a Cladosporium fungal infection.

Diagnosis The images in this fact sheet will provide a grower with the ability to identify IYSV in their onions in most situations. If a person is still in doubt, we suggest contacting your locaI county Extension agent for additional help. If diagnostic confirmation is necessary, a sample leaf with associated suspect IYSV symptoms, can be taken or sent to the Utah Plant Pest Diagnostic Laboratory in Logan, UT. Instructions for collecting and submitting a plant dis-ease or arthropod sample can be found on the Internet at, www.utahpests.usu.edu/uppdl/htm/forms. Testing can be run using the enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELI-SA).

Fig. 10. An onion field showing severe IYSV symptoms of brown-ing and premature senescence. IYSV infected onions this severely affected will have lower yield and reduced grade and poorer storability (photo courtesy of Dr. Howard Schwartz, Colorado State University).

Disease Cycle IYSV likely overwinters in volunteer onions from one season to the next. The virus is also known to naturally infect a wide range of host plants (see Table 1). No known transfer of IYSV from a weed host to onions (Allium spp.) has been documented to date, however it is suspected

to occur. IYSV is not known to be seedborne. Emerging Thrips tabaci (onion thrips) move the virus from infected onion plants to non-infected plants when they feed.

Management, Resistant Varieties,and Prevention

Management of IYSV in onions is best accomplished using an integrated pest management (IPM) strategy. Volunteer onions should be removed or killed along with weeds using an appropriate herbicide and/or use of appro-priate and timely tillage. Weeds should be managed along border areas of production fields and within fields as well. Crop rotation should be practiced to minimize the build-up of thrips populations. Care should be taken to plant quality transplants in a field. Evaluation of onion cultivars has not shown specific cultivars to be resistant, but green-leafed cultivars had less incidence and severity of IYSV than blue-leafed cultivars under moderate to severe disease. Uniform and densely planted fields reduce the incidence of IYSV. Onions for seed and bulb production fields should be separated. It is reported that overhead irrigation suppresses thrips populations, but will likely lead to salt build-up given water quality and alkalinity of soils in Utah. Stressed plants are often predisposed to other diseases and so water and nutrient stresses should be avoided.. Straw mulch has been used in Utah to improve water infil-tration within bedded onions and may also serve to inhibit thrips, the reasons for this are not well understood, the reflective color of the straw is thought to discourage thrips from moving into the straw-mulched onions. Management of thrips early in the onion season is reported to help keep IYSV incidence at lower levels. A recent USU fact sheet for thrips management in Utah onions can be found online at: http://extension.usu.edu/files/publications/factsheet/onion-thrip08.pdf.

page 4

Utah State University is committed to providing an environment free from harassment and other forms of illegal discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age (40 and older), disability, and veteran’s status. USU’s policy also prohibits discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation in employment and academic related practices and decisions. USU employees and students cannot, because of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, or veteran’s status, refuse to hire; discharge; promote; demote; terminate; discriminate in compensation; or discriminate regarding terms, privileges, or conditions of employment, against any person otherwise qualified. Employees and students also cannot discriminate in the classroom, residence halls, or in on/off campus, USU-sponsored events and activities. This publication is issued in furtherance of Cooperative Extension work. Acts of May 8 and June 30, 1914, in cooperation with the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Noelle E. Cockett, Vice President for Extension and Agriculture, Utah State University.

Precautionary Statement: All pesticides have benefits and risks, however following the label will maximize the benefits and reduce risks. Pay attention to the directions for use and follow precautionary statements. Pesticide labels are considered legal documents containing instructions and limitations. Inconsistent use of the product or disregarding the label is a violation of both federal and state laws. The pesticide applicator is legally responsible for proper use.

References

UPPDL, 5305 Old Main Hill, Logan UT 84322-5305 T: 435.797.2435 F: 435.797.8197 www.utahpests.usu.edu

Abad, J. A., Speck, J., Mohan, S. K., and Moyer, J. W. 2003. Diversityof the Iris yellow spot virus N gene in the USA. (Abstr.) Phytopathol-ogy 93:S1.

Cortes, I., Livieratos, I. C., Derks, A., Peters, D., and Kormelink, R.1998. Molecular and serological characterization of Iris yellow spot virus, a new and distinct tospovirus species. Phytopathology 88:1276-1282.

Evans, C. K., Bag, S., Frank, E., Reeve, J. R., Ransom, C., Drost,D., and Pappu, H. R. 2009. Natural infection of Iris yellow spot virus in twoscale saltbush (Atriplex micrantha) growing in Utah. Plant Dis. 93:430.

Evans, C. K., Bag, S., Frank, E., Reeve, J. R., Ransom, C., Drost,D., and Pappu, H. R. 2009. Green foxtail (Setaria viridis), a naturally infected grass host of Iris yelow spot virus in Utah. Plant Dis. 93:In Press, accepted for publication 17 March 2009.

Gent, D. H., Schwartz, H. F., and Khosla, R. 2004. Distribution andincidence of Iris yellow spot virus in Colorado and its relation to onion plant population and yield. Plant Dis. 88:446-452.

Gent. D. H., du Toit, L. J., Fichtner, S. F., Mohan, S. K., Pappu, H. R.,and Schwartz, H. F. 2006. Iris yellow spot virus: an emerging threat to onion bulb and seed production. Plant Dis. 90:1468-1480.

Hall, J. M., Mohan, K., Knott, E. A., and Moyer, J. W. 1993. Tospovi-ruses associated with scape blight of onion (Allium cepa) seed crops in Idaho. Plant Dis. 77:952.

Kritzman, A., Beckelman, H., Alexandrov, S., Cohen, J., Lampel, M.,Zeidan, M., Raccah, B., and Gera, A. 2000. Lisianthus leaf necrosis: A new disease of lisianthus caused by Iris yellow spot virus. Plant Dis. 84:1185-1189.

Kritzman, A., Lampel, M., Raccah, B., and Gera, A. 2001. Distributionand transmission of Iris yellow spot virus. Plant Dis. 85:838-842.

Nischwitz, C., Gitaitis, R., and Mullis, S. W. 2008. Distribution of Irisyellow spot virus in Georgia. Phytopathology 98:S211.

Nischwitz, C., Gitaitis, R. D., Mullis, S.W., Csinos, A. S., and Langston,S. B. Jr., and Sparks, A. N. 2007. First report of Iris yellow spot virus in spiny sowthistel (Sonchus asper) in the United States. Plant Dis. 91:1518.

Pappu, H. R., Rosales, I. M., and Druffel, K. L. 2008. Serological andmolecular assays for rapid and sensitive detection of Iris yellow spot virus infection of bulb and seed onion crops. Plant Dis. 92:588-594.

Sampangi, R. K., Mohan, S. K., and Pappu, H. R. 2007. Identificationof anew alternative weed hosts for Iris yellow spot virus in the Pacific Northwest. Plant Dis. 91:1683.

Pappu. H. R., Hellier, B. C., and Dugan, F. M. 2006. Wild Allium spp. asnatural hosts of Iris yellow spot virus. Plant Dis. 90:378.

Schwartz, H. F., Brown, W. M. Jr., Blunt, T., and Gent, D. H. 2002. Irisyellow spot virus on onion in Colorado. Plant Dis. 86:560.

Schwartz, H. F., and Mohan, S. K., Eds. 2008. Compendium of onionand garlic diseases and pests, Second Ed. APS Press, St. Paul, MN.

Schwartz, H. F., Otto, K., and Pappu, H. R. 2007. First report of Iris yel-low spot virus in commercial leek (Allium porrum) in the United States. Plant Dis. 91:113.

Smith, T. N., Wylie, S. J., Coutts, B. A., and Jones, R. A. C. 2006. Lo-calized distribution of Iris yellow spot virus within leeks and its reli-able large-scale detection. Plant Dis. 90:729-733.

Host plant’s Latin name Common nameAllium altaicum wild/ornamental onion

Allium cepa onion (garden/commercial)

Allimu cepa var. ascalonicum onion (garden/commercial)

Allium fistulosum bunching onion

Allium sativum garlic

Allium pskemense wild/ornamental onion

Allium schoenoprasum chives

Allium vavilovii wild/ornamental onion

Alstroemeria sp. Peruvian lily

Amaranthus retroflexus red root pigweed

Atriplex micrantha twoscale saltbush

Bessera elegans coral drops (ornamental)

Chenopodium album lambsquarter

Clivia minata kaffir-lily

Cycas sp. ornamental palm (cycad)

Eustoma grandiflorum Texas bluebell

Eustoma russellianum lisianthus

Geranium carolinianum Carolina geranium

Hippeastrum hybridum ornamental bulbous flower

Iris holandica iris

Kochia scoparia kochia

Lactuca serriola prickly lettuce

Linaria canadensis blue toadflax

Pelargonium hortorum common geranium

Petunia hybrida petunia

Portulaca oleracea purslane

Rosa sp. roses

Setaria viridis green foxtail2

Sonchus asper spiny sowthistle

Tribulus terrestris puncturevine

Vicia sativa vetch (garden vetch)

Vigna unguiculata black-eyed pea

Experimental hosts Mechanically inoculatedChenopodium amaranticolor1 another type of lambsquarter

Chenopodium quinoa1 quinoa

Gomphrena globosa1 globe amaranth

Datura stromonium1 jimson weed

Nicotiana benthamiana1 ornamental tobacco

1Experimental host plant species that IYSV is reported as mechanically inoculated in experimental host range trials. Table 1 is a summary of host plant species condensed from Cortes et al., 1998, Evans et al., 2009, Evans et al., 2009 In Press, Gent et al., 2006, Pappu et al., 2006, and Sampangi et al., 2007. This list will likely grow to include other sepcies as research progresses. 2To our knowledge, this is the first grass reported as a host species of a Tospovirus.

Table 1. Host plant species reported to be naturally infected with IYSV. A list of some experimental host plant species is included.