Authors: Elise Bennett, Megan Frisby, Rob Hess, Max Taylor, Erin Riggs, Alma Laney
Mentors: Alma Laney
Insitution: Utah Valley University
Beet curly top virus (BCTV) is a highly destructive virus found in most of the Western United States characterized by curling of the leaves, yellowing, and lack of produce. Historically, BCTV was a key factor in the decline of sugar beet production in Utah, formerly a large factor in the state economy. Commonly found in beets, tomatoes, and peppers, BCT is vectored by the beet leafhopper, Circulifer tenellus, as it feeds on the phloem tissue. Novel hosts of this virus found in Utah include sunflower, mallow, eggplant, hemp, big sagebrush, and Solanum jamesii, the Four Corners potato. Sunflowers showed symptoms of curled leaves and stunting. Similarly, the eggplant developed shriveled leaves and a mosaic at the leaf tips. Four Corners potato, a staple food source of the Indigenous peoples of the Southwest, displayed strong symptoms including stunting, leaf yellowing, and leaf curling. Weedy species and other garden plants displaying various viral symptoms were also collected for testing. Detection was done using published BCTV detection primers and rolling circle amplification with the use of Phi29 polymerase to prepare the genome for whole genome sequencing. A 518 bp region was sequenced to 4x coverage from eight host samples. To ensure the validity of diagnosis, a triple antibody sandwich ELISA was performed confirming the results. Considering the history of BCTV in relation to the agriculture industry of Utah, the discovery of novel hosts is cause for concern since this virus is adaptable and limits crop yield. The diagnosis of BCTV in native plants, such as the Four Corners potato and the big sagebrush, is pressing as it these local flora are unique to the region. The verification of BCTV in these novel hosts allows for the agriculture industry of Utah to prepare prevention methods including the monitoring of beet leafhoppers and increased integrated pest management strategies are needed to protect our local environment.