Bean plants of the cultivar Novirex, showing an atypical pod curling symptom without mosaic or leaf distortion, were collected in 2002 at Cordisburgo, MG. Previous studies identified the virus as an isolate of Bean rugose mosaic virus (BRMV). This work reports on the characterization of the isolate, including its purification and production of a polyclonal antiserum, determination of a partial host range, vector transmission, and an estimate of yield losses due to single or mixed infection with Bean common mosaic virus (BCMV). The protocol adopted for virus purification led to purified preparations with high yield, and the antisera obtained reacted with the maximum dilution tested (1:70.000) in indirect ELISA. From the 22 plant species tested as hosts, Chenopodium quinoa reacted with chlorotic local lesions, which evolved to mosaic and leaf distortion in non-inoculated leaves. Bean and soybean cultivars reacted with mosaic and leaf distortion of varying intensity, as expected for BRMV. The isolate was transmitted by Cerotoma arcuata to 33.3% of the inoculated plants. Single infection of 'Ouro Negro' and 'Novirex' beans caused a reduction in the total weight of pods per plant of 3.4% and 84.9%, respectively. Mixed infection with BCMV caused a reduction of pod weight per plant of up to 70.1% in 'Novirex' and up to 90.8% in 'Ouro Negro'.
common bean; Bean rugose mosaic virus
