An efficient mechanical inoculation technique for soybean dwarf virus reveals that the viral readthrough domain is inessential for the systemic infection of host plants

A method for mechanical inoculation of soybean and pea plants with soybean dwarf virus (SbDV) was developed. Soybean and pea seedlings were inoculated with SbDV RNA transcript via pricks made with fine stainless steel wire. After 2–3 weeks, more than 50% of inoculated plants were systemically infected with SbDV. Further analysis using this method to inoculate plants with a mutated SbDV revealed that the readthrough domain of SbDV is not essential for viral long-distance movement in host plants.