Antibodies protect peanut plant from viruses

Decoding Peanut Bud Necrosis Virus: How New Antibodies Could Save Your Crops

Jordan Keane in Science & Nature August 2025 • 4 min read.

"Scientists develop innovative antibodies to combat a devastating plant virus, offering hope for farmers worldwide."

Imagine your livelihood threatened by an invisible enemy. For farmers across South and Southeast Asia, that enemy is very real: Peanut bud necrosis virus (PBNV), also known as Groundnut bud necrosis virus (GBNV). This aggressive virus attacks essential crops like peanuts, tomatoes, and sunflowers, causing yield losses of up to 50% depending on when the infection strikes.

The impact is devastating, not only for individual farmers but also for regional economies. In India, GBNV outbreaks in tomatoes can obliterate entire yields, resulting in 100% losses. Controlling this virus is a constant battle, and scientists are continually searching for effective strategies to protect vulnerable crops.

Now, there's promising news on the horizon. Researchers have successfully developed a new set of polyclonal antibodies specifically designed to detect and neutralize GBNV. This breakthrough offers a more sensitive and reliable method for identifying the virus, potentially paving the way for more targeted and effective control measures.

Understanding the Enemy: What is Peanut Bud Necrosis Virus?

Antibodies protect peanut plant from viruses

Peanut bud necrosis virus (PBNV) is a member of the Tospovirus family, notorious for causing significant damage to a wide range of economically important crops. It’s primarily transmitted by thrips, tiny insects that carry the virus from plant to plant. Once a plant is infected, the virus can cause a range of symptoms, including:

The severity of these symptoms often depends on the plant's age and the specific strain of the virus. In young plants, infection can be lethal, while older plants may suffer reduced yields and poor-quality produce. The adaptable nature of GBNV makes it a persistent challenge for farmers.

Mosaic and chlorotic spots on leaves
Severe necrosis (tissue death) of buds and petioles (leaf stalks)
Stunted growth
Necrotic rings and streaks

Traditional methods for detecting GBNV often rely on visual inspection of symptoms, which can be unreliable, or on laboratory tests that may not be readily accessible to farmers in affected regions. This highlights the critical need for rapid, accurate, and user-friendly diagnostic tools.

A New Hope for Crop Protection

The development of these new polyclonal antibodies represents a significant step forward in the fight against Peanut bud necrosis virus. By providing a more sensitive and reliable method for detecting the virus, these antibodies can help farmers and agricultural experts implement timely and effective control strategies, ultimately safeguarding crop yields and protecting livelihoods.

About this Article -

This article was crafted using a human-AI hybrid and collaborative approach. AI assisted our team with initial drafting, research insights, identifying key questions, and image generation. Our human editors guided topic selection, defined the angle, structured the content, ensured factual accuracy and relevance, refined the tone, and conducted thorough editing to deliver helpful, high-quality information.See our About page for more information.

This article is based on research published under:

DOI-LINK: 10.4172/2157-7471.1000s1-002, Alternate LINK

Title: Expression And Production Of Polyclonal Antibodies Against Recombinant Coat Protein Of Peanut Bud Necrosis Virus

Subject: General Engineering

Journal: Journal of Plant Pathology & Microbiology

Publisher: OMICS Publishing Group

Authors: Sivaprasad Y Bhaskara Reddy Bv

Published: 2015-01-01

Everything You Need To Know

What exactly is Peanut bud necrosis virus (PBNV), and what crops does it affect?

Peanut bud necrosis virus (PBNV), also known as Groundnut bud necrosis virus (GBNV), is a member of the Tospovirus family. It is a significant threat to various crops, including peanuts, tomatoes, and sunflowers. This aggressive virus causes substantial yield losses, with the potential to obliterate entire yields in crops like tomatoes, as seen in India. The virus is transmitted by thrips, tiny insects that carry the virus from plant to plant.

How does Peanut bud necrosis virus (PBNV) impact crops and what are the visible signs of infection?

PBNV causes a range of symptoms depending on the plant's age and the specific strain of the virus. Common symptoms include mosaic and chlorotic spots on leaves, severe necrosis (tissue death) of buds and petioles (leaf stalks), stunted growth, and necrotic rings and streaks. The severity of these symptoms can vary, with young plants potentially experiencing lethal infections, while older plants may suffer reduced yields and poor-quality produce.

What are the limitations of traditional methods for detecting Groundnut bud necrosis virus (GBNV)?

Traditional methods often rely on visual inspection of symptoms, which can be unreliable, or on laboratory tests. Visual inspection can be inaccurate due to the similarity of symptoms with other plant diseases or environmental stressors. Laboratory tests may not be readily accessible to farmers in affected regions, hindering timely diagnosis and control efforts. This lack of rapid and accessible diagnostic tools highlights the need for improved methods.

How do the new polyclonal antibodies work to combat Groundnut bud necrosis virus (GBNV), and why is this significant?

The newly developed polyclonal antibodies are designed to detect and neutralize Groundnut bud necrosis virus (GBNV). These antibodies provide a more sensitive and reliable method for identifying the virus. This is significant because it allows farmers and agricultural experts to implement timely and effective control strategies, safeguarding crop yields and protecting livelihoods. The antibodies improve the accuracy of detection compared to visual inspection and offer a practical alternative to inaccessible laboratory tests, enabling proactive management.

What are the implications of Groundnut bud necrosis virus (GBNV) outbreaks for farmers and regional economies?

Outbreaks of Groundnut bud necrosis virus (GBNV) have devastating impacts on both individual farmers and regional economies. Farmers face significant yield losses, which can reach up to 50% depending on when the infection strikes, and even lead to 100% losses in some cases, such as in tomato crops in India. This results in reduced income, food shortages, and economic instability in affected regions. Controlling the virus is therefore a crucial battle to protect vulnerable crops and sustain livelihoods.