Investigation of maize dwarf mosaic virus MDMV) disease in maize fields in Teki̇rdağ province

Survey studies were performed to investigate Maize dwarf mosaic virus (MDMV) disease, which is a member of the Potyvirus genus in the family Potyviridae, causing essential damage to the yield and quality in maize production fields in Tekirdağ province in June and July of 2022 year. 11 districts of Tekirdağ provinces have been visited during survey studies and collected a total of 117 leaf sample from Süleymanpaşa (66), Şarköy (11), Malkara (17), Çorlu (1), Çerkezköy (3), Kapaklı (3), Muratlı (4), Marmaraereğlisi (3), Saray (2), Hayrabolu (3) and Ergene (4) districts. The study materials of this master thesis consisted of leaf samples collected from maize plants exhibiting streak mosaic, yellowing, vein discoloration, chlorotic leaf spot, and dwarfing symptoms. First of all, MDMV disease was investigated in a total of 117 maize leaf sample using the Double Antibody Sandwich Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay (DAS-ELISA) test method. DAS-ELISA test results revealed that 10 leaf sample derived from Süleymanpaşa, Şarköy, and Malkara districts were found infected by MDMV. Ten leaf sample found infected with MDMV were inoculated mechanically to the sweet corn (Zea mays saccharata Sturt) variety, which was selected as the indicator plant. The streak mosaic symptoms were observed on the sweet corn indicator plants. Moreover, 30 leaf samples that had negative results by DAS-ELISA test, however close to positive values, were subjected Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR) test. Thus, RT-PCR test results revealed that 7 out of 30 leaf samples were found infected by MDMV. This study showed that the MDMV infection rate was %14.53 in maize fields of Tekirdağ province in the Trakya region.