back to HYPP Pathology
home page


Barley yellow dwarf virus (BYDV)
Cereal yellow dwarf virus,

Virus, LUTEOVIRUS .

Crops attacked: barley, .


[R]Common Names :

Barley yellow dwarf virus,

Present throughout the world except in tropical areas.

Identification, Description, Biology, Epidemiology, Treatement, Possible misleading, Images


[R]Identification
Investigation of a wide range of hosts allows satisfactory diagnostic.ELISA test available.

[R]Description
The first symptom detectable in the barley field is the yellowing of the leaf tip, more particularly the last leaf under the head.
In oat contamination is signaled by the reddening of the leaves.
The virus reduces root growth, causes loss of colour in the leaf margins followed by the yellowing and relative dwarfism of the plants starting with the boot stage.

[R]Biology
The virus is transmitted by ( Rhopalosiphum padi and Sitobion avenae ) in autumn.
The aphids get the virus by feeding on contaminated plants. They carry the virus but do not transmit the infection to the next generation.
Contaminated weeds and grasses can also be a source of inoculum.

[R]Epidemiology
The dissemination of the virus mainly depends on the movements of the aphid populations which are the vectors.
The cool (10 -18 °C.) and humid seasons favour the reproduction and the migration of the .

[R]Treatement
Remove the voluntaries which are a source of inoculum.
Use tolerant cultivars.
Avoid early sowing as the are killed by the first frost.
Treat with pesticides according to local advice and decisions.

[R]Possible misleading
The BYDV symptoms are not easy to distinguish from those caused by aster yellow or other physiological or deficiency factors.

[R] Images

  1. Barley yellow dwarf virus, BYDV (POINSO B., INRA)
    Barley yellow dwarf virus Focus of Barley yellow dwarf virus in field conditions.
  2. Barley yellow dwarf virus, BYDV (FOUCHARD M., INRA)
    Barley yellow dwarf virus Focus of Barley yellow dwarf virus in field conditions.
  3. Barley yellow dwarf virus, BYDV (CASSINI R., INRA)
    Barley yellow dwarf virus on oats Characteristic reddening of the oat leaf extremities caused by BYDV.
  4. Barley yellow dwarf virus, BYDV (FOUCHARD M., INRA)
    Barley yellow dwarf virus Focus of BYDV in a barley field.

To read this page in French

HYP3 on line : Species (scientific name), Diseases (common names), Glossary, Crops.

back to HYPP Pathology home page