Variation in Pathogenicity and Multiplication of Beet Necrotic Yellow Vein Virus (BNYVV) in Relation to the Resistance of Sugar-beet Cultivars

Some partially resistant cultivars varied in their response to beet necrotic yellow vein virus (BNYW), which could be due to the occurrence of different pathotypes. In the past three different types of BNYVV could be identified. Since in the field no consistent cultivar×virus source interaction could be detected, greenhouse trials were carried out under more standardised conditions, starting with a similar initial density of BNYVV. Cultivars with different degrees of resistance varied in their response to various types of beet necrotic yellow vein virus (BNYVV). The B type appeared to be less damaging than the A and P types. The virus content in the tap roots and the ratio of the virus content in tap roots to that in lateral roots were both higher in P type than in A or B type infections indicating that the P type moves more rapidly in the plants than the two other BNYVV types. The percentage of plants in which the virus reaches only a low concentration (less than 56 ng/ml of sap) is much lower in P type than in A or B type infections. Frequency distribution diagrams of individual plants showing different BNYVV levels reveal considerable differences between various cultivars.