Institut für Epidemiologie und Pathogendiagnostik
Barley mosaic disease is caused by a virus complex consisting of the Barley yellow mosaic virus (BaYMV) and the Barley mild mosaic virus (BaMMV). The viral disease is characterized by yellow stripes on the leaves, growth depression and yield loss. The disease is usually diagnosed by symptom scoring and serological detection using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). As the viruses are transmitted via the soil-borne, spore-forming vector Polymyxa graminis and remain infectious in the spores for many years, infested areas are contaminated for long periods of time. The cultivation of resistant plant varieties is therefore crucial for the successful control of the virus. Informed cultivation of resistant varieties is important to ensure the lowest possible selection pressure on the viruses. In the VISpect project, we aim at resolving the symptoms of barley mosaic disease multispectrally. To this end, multispectral images of various barley genotypes with different resistance characteristics will be produced and the results correlated with the results of serological tests for BaYMV and BaMMV. The study will investigate whether it is possible in principle to differentiate the virus symptoms from other pathogens and between the viruses of the complex in barley. Multispectral diagnostics would enable early detection of plant viruses and thus facilitate virus management.
Federal Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Regional Identity
