The possible existence of variability in the reaction of PMV in soybean, which could lead to resistance breaking strains, was investigated in this study. The specific research objectives were to provide evidence of PMV strains in soybean, and to characterize the PMV strains using aphid transmission efficiency and serological relationships. Twelve PMV isolates were placed in five strain groups (P1-P5) based on symptom expression in the soybean cultivars Lee 68, York, and Virginia. Aphid transmission efficiency of the PMV strains by the green peach aphid (Myzus persicae Sulz.) was determined by counting infected test plants following natural feeding by aphids exposed to virus infected source plants. Transmission efficiency from pea (Pisum sativum L.) source plants to pea test plants was 11 to 36% and varied with strains. Pea to soybean and soybean to soybean transmission was 5 to 29% and 20 to 58%, respectively. From these results, the 5 strains could be classified in 2 groups. Two techniques, SDS-immunodiffusion (sodium dodecyl sulfate) and ELISA (enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay), were used to investigate the serological relatedness of the PMV strains. Results indicated that all the strains were serologically closely related. / Ph. D.