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Updated: Jul 16, 2026

Transmitting Plant Viruses Using Whiteflies
Published on: November 8, 2013
Milder Autumns May Increase Risk for Infection of Crops with Turnip Yellows Virus
Vinitha Puthanveed1, Khushwant Singh1,2, Efstratia Poimenopoulou1
1Department of Plant Biology, Linnean Center for Plant Biology, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, 750 07 Uppsala, Sweden.
Climate change enables insect-borne viruses like turnip yellows virus (TuYV) to infect crops. A study found widespread TuYV in Swedish winter oilseed rape, highlighting risks from green peach aphids and potential new virus strains.
Area of Science:
- Plant pathology
- Virology
- Entomology
- Climate change impact on agriculture
Background:
- Climate change is increasing crop infection risks from insect-transmitted viruses.
- Mild autumns prolong insect activity, facilitating virus spread to winter crops.
- Green peach aphids (Myzus persicae) in autumn 2018 posed a turnip yellows virus (TuYV) risk to Swedish winter oilseed rape (OSR; Brassica napus).
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the incidence and genetic diversity of TuYV in Swedish OSR and sugar beet.
- To investigate potential coinfections and the risk of new polerovirus genotypes.
Main Methods:
- A survey of 46 OSR fields in Sweden in spring 2019 using DAS-ELISA.
- Sequence analysis of the TuYV coat protein gene.
- High-throughput sequencing of OSR samples.
- Molecular analysis of yellowing sugar beet plants.
Main Results:
- TuYV was detected in 45 out of 46 surveyed OSR fields (98% incidence).
- Average TuYV incidence in Skåne, Kalmar, and Östergötland was 75%, reaching 100% in nine fields.
- TuYV isolates showed genetic similarity to global strains; coinfection with TuYV-associated RNA was confirmed.
- TuYV was found in sugar beet, alongside beet mild yellowing virus and beet chlorosis virus, indicating host spillover.
Conclusions:
- Widespread TuYV infection in Swedish OSR poses a significant threat to crop yield.
- The presence of multiple poleroviruses in single plants increases the risk of recombination and the emergence of novel viral strains.
- Monitoring insect vectors and virus incidence is crucial for managing crop diseases exacerbated by climate change.
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