Prevalence and natural impact of major wheat viruses in Azerbaijan

Cereal viruses such as Wheat streak mosaic virus (WSMV), Barley/Cereal yellow dwarf viruses (B/CYDV), and Wheat dwarf virus (WDV) often occur alongside other wheat pathogens, making it difficult to diagnose and manage these diseases effectively. To better understand the current situation with these important DNA and RNA viruses, we collected 157 wheat samples showing virus-like symptoms during the 2022–2024 growing seasons. The samples were taken from wheat-growing areas of Azerbaijan, including Absheron, Jalilabad, and Shamakhi, and were analyzed using ELISA and RT-PCR. During our field surveys, we observed potensial signs of viral infections, such as stunted growth, yellowing or streaking of leaves, and reduced grain yields. After extracting total RNA and DNA from the samples, we used specific primers to amplify regions of the viruses’ genomes. We successfully amplified DNA fragments of 404 bp, 178 bp, and 550 bp in 25, 39, and 44 samples infected with BYDV WSMV, and WDV respectively. These findings shed light on the prevalence of these viruses in Azerbaijan’s wheat fields and provide essential information for improving management strategies to protect wheat productivity.