Molecular characterization and field survey of Iranian potato virus X isolates

Six hundred and one symptomatic potato samples were collected from nine provinces in Iran. Screening by double-antibody sandwich enzyme linked immunosorbent assay using a potato virus X (PVX) together with a few potyviruses polyclonal antibodies, produced positive reactions in 4.3 % of samples against PVX. Based on symptoms on different test plant, the isolates were divided into two groups: the first groups causing blistering and malformation of leaves and the second showed mild mosaic and vein clearing in Nicotiana glutinosa. The almost complete nucleotide sequence of two isolates as a representative of severe and a mild isolates were determined. Genomes of two PVX Iranian isolates are identical to that of the most PVX isolates comprise 6435 nucleotides in length excluding 101 nucleotide in the 5' end of the genome and shares 94.8-96.7 % identities with European and Asian, and 77-96.1 % with American isolates. Furthermore, the 3'-terminal sequences, including the coat protein coding region of other 13 Iranian isolates were determined and compared with the GenBank sequences. Phylogenetic analysis of the cp gene of 13 Iranian isolates together all those available in public databases indicated that the 13 Iranian isolates all belong to low diversity clade I.

Incidence and characterization of Potato virus V infections in Iran

A survey was carried out to determine the extent of Potato virus V (PVV) infection, together with other potyviruses, in Iran in both commercial and local potato varieties. We found a low incidence of PVV in commercial varieties compared to a local potato cultivar Zardi, in which we noted a PVV infection up to ~32.9 %. We determined the genomic sequence 9,812 nucleotides of one isolate (KER.LAL.P) from cultivar Agria and the 3'-terminal sequence including coat protein (CP) gene of four additional isolates from cultivar Zardi. The Iranian isolate PVV KER.LAL.P was found to share 91 % sequence identity with the Scottish isolate DV-42 (AJ243766) of PVV. The CP gene sequences of the PVV isolates from Iran shared 96.5 to 99.3 % pairwise nucleotide identity and they shared <97.5 % pairwise identity with the CP sequences of all other PVV isolates available in public databases. Our host studies indicated that the Iranian PVV isolate had a narrower host range and infected Nicotiana debneyi and N. glutinosa test plants. Within the commercial varieties of potato in Iran, we noted a significant amount of mixed potyvirus infection. This study is the first report of occurrence and complete genome of PVV in Iran.