Editorial: Viruses threatening stable production of cereal crops

Between 2005 and 2008 the prices of rice, wheat and maize were more than doubled (von Braun, 2008). The sudden surge in cereal prices led or was led by major uncertainties to secure staple food supplies in many developing countries, especially in Asia. Several economic and social factors collectively appear to have triggered the unstable supplies of cereal crops during the recent food crisis (Headey and Fan, 2008). Besides, lower cereal crop productivities due to unfavorable environments and outbreaks of pests and diseases may have been associated, at least in part, with the unstable supplies of cereals during the period. In fact, massive outbreaks of brown planthoppers (BPH) transmitting rice viruses were reported in many areas of Indochina Peninsula during 2006 and 2008, which resulted in a significant decrease in international trade of rice (Ta et al., 2013). This research topic consists of four original research and seven review articles covering various aspects of cereal viruses and their vector insects that are considered as current or potential threats to stable production of cereal crops. We also hope that this e-book can provide the readership an update on the recent studies on a variety of cereal viruses. The first two articles described two cereal viruses whose genome sequences were determined recently. Southern rice black-streaked dwarf virus (SRBSDV) is a new virus found in China in 2001. SRBSDV can infect maize, rice, and other monocotyledonous plants, and quickly spread to wide areas of China and Vietnam. SRBSDV is tentatively classified in the genus Fijivirus of the family Reoviridae. SRBSDV was found to be transmitted by white-backed planthopper (WBPH), which had not been previously recognized as a vector of any viruses. Zhou et al. (2013) summarized biological and molecular characteristics of SRBSDV, and discussed key factors of its epidemiology and current options for its control. This article should serve as a basic guide to management of this newly emerged virus, which may be widely distributed in Asia. The yellow dwarf viruses (YDVs) belonging to the Luteoviridae family are the most widespread group of cereal viruses worldwide. Barley yellow dwarf viruses (BYDVs) are a group of viruses included in YDVs. BYDVs were previously placed into several strains based on the differences in their biological characteristics. Genome sequence analyses revealed that the BYDV strains are classified into either the Luteovirus or the Polerovirus genera of the Luteoviridae family. Krueger et al. (2013) analyzed the genome …