Investigations of soil-borne viruses in sugar beet production areas of Ankara and Konya provinces

Soil-borne virus diseases are among the most important factors limiting the yield in sugar beet production. This study was carried out in Ayaş, Beypazarı, Sincan, Polatlı and Haymana districts of Ankara province and Meram, Çumra and Yunak districts of Konya province in order to determine the soil-borne viruses infecting sugar beet production areas and Plasmodiophorid and Chytridioid species, which are among their vectors, and to reveal their infection rates. Soil samples were taken from a total of 52 different fields from 18 villages of these provinces in 2021 and sugar beet plants were grown in these samples under controlled conditions according to the bait plant test method. Then, these samples were tested for Beet necrotic yellow vein virus (BNYVV), Beet black scorh virus (BBSV), Tobacco necrosis virus (TNV), Tobacco rattle virus (TRV) and Tobacco mosaic virus (TMV) by DAS-ELISA method. The presence of Beet soil-borne virus (BSBV), another soil-borne virus, was investigated by RT-PCR using primers specific to the coat protein gene region of the virus in 12 selected samples from both provinces. As a result of the study, BNYVV infection was detected in the majority of the samples (78.8%). The presence of BSBV was detected in eight of 12 samples (66.7%). Resting spore structures of Polymyxa betae, the vector of BNYVV and BSBV, were detected in the roots of all 52 samples. On the other hand, no samples contaminated with BBSV and TNV were found. However, the vector of these viruses, Olpidium spp. was detected in 57.7% of sugar beet roots. In addition, 16 samples (30.8%) were found to be infested with TMV. TRV, another virus analysed, was not detected in any of the samples. This study showed that BNYVV, the causal agent of rhizomania disease, and its vector P. betae are quite common in sugar beet production areas in Ankara and Konya provinces.