Hordeivirus Isolation and RNA Extraction

The hordeivirus group of RNA viruses contains three members: barley stripe mosaic virus (BSMV), poa semilatent virus (PSLV), and lychnis ringspot virus (LRSV), with anthoxanthum latent bleaching virus (ALBV) considered to be a possible fourth member (1 ). Hordeiviruses have a diverse host range; BSMV, PSLV, and ALBV primarily infect members of the graminae, and LRSV is known to infect several members of the dicots. As yet, no vectors have been identified that are capable of transmitting hordeiviruses. BSMV and LRSV are transmitted through seed and pollen, with the efficiency being dependent on many factors, including the virus strain, the host plant, and environmental factors. However, to date, PSLV and ALBV have not been shown to be seed-transmitted.