Wheat mosaic virus (WMoV), the Causal Agent of High Plains Disease, is Present in Ohio Wheat Fields

High Plains disease was first described in wheat (Triticum aestivum) in Nebraska, Idaho, Texas, and other High Plains states in 1993 to 1994 (1). The causal agent is a negative sense RNA virus in the genus Emaravirus with at least three genome segments, which is transmitted by the wheat curl mite (Aceria tosichella Keifer) (2). This virus is variously referred to as High Plains virus (HPV), Maize red stripe virus (MRSV/MRStV), or Wheat mosaic virus (WMoV) in the literature. We adopt the name WMoV based on the latest recommendation (3). The presence of WMoV in Ohio was revealed through a comprehensive survey conducted in early spring 2012. Specifically, wheat plants exhibiting virus-like symptoms including chlorosis, reddening, stunting, spotting, or striping were collected from 27 wheat fields in 14 counties throughout Ohio, between March 20 and April 15, 2012. Total RNA was extracted from individual leaf samples, then pooled prior to ribosomal RNA removal and high throughput RNA-sequencing (RNA-Seq) usin...