Seed Transmission of Indian Peanut Clump Virus (IPCV) in Peanut and Millets

An enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) procedure was developed to test peanut seed for Indian peanut clump virus (IPCV). A double antibody sandwich form of ELISA detected the Hyderabad isolate (IPCV-H) in seed of peanut. Correlation was established between the results from ELISA performed on cotyledons of peanut seed and grow-out tests. Seed transmission in the field-infected peanut plants ranged from 3.5 to 17%, depending on the genotype. The transmission frequency was 48 to 55% in seed collected from plants infected through seed. Because testae of all seed contained viral antigen, their removal was essential for the determination of frequency of seed transmission. Apparently the virus present only in cotyledons and embryo contributed to the seed transmission. For the first time, IPCV-H was shown to be seed transmitted in finger millet (Eleusine coracana), foxtail millet (Setaria italica), and pearl millet (Pennisetum glaucum) at frequencies of 5.2, 9.7, and 0.9%, respectively. Seed transmission was not observed in sorghum (Sorghum bicolor). Significance of seed transmission in millet crops is discussed.