Accumulation of nitrate in oats infected with barley yellow dwarf virus

Abstract

A comparison was made of the nitrate levels of healthy Algerian oats and those infected with barley yellow dwarf virus (BYDV), the plants being grown on three soil types in containers in an insect-screened glass-house, under conditions of low nitrogen nutrition.

The nitrate level of virus-infected plants was significantly higher than that of healthy plants, and within the range considered to be toxic to ruminants.

In plants grown in a peat-sand mix with abundant applied nitrogen, infected oats were not markedly dwarfed; their foliage dry weight was not significantly less than that of healthy oats, but nitrate accumulation was significantly less.

The possible significance of the association between nitrate accumulation and BYDV infection in oats is discussed in relation to nitrate poisoning of livestock.