Genetic Diversity, Reassortment, and Recombination in Alfalfa mosaic virus Population in Spain.

The variability and genetic structure of Alfalfa mosaic virus (AMV) in Spain was evaluated through the molecular characterization of 60 isolates collected from different hosts and different geographic areas. Analysis of nucleotide sequences in four coding regions--P1, P2, movement protein (MP), and coat protein (CP)--revealed a low genetic diversity and different restrictions to variation operating on each coding region. Phylogenetic analysis of Spanish isolates along with previously reported AMV sequences showed consistent clustering into types I and II for P1 and types I, IIA, and IIB for MP and CP regions. No clustering was observed for the P2 region. According to restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis, the Spanish AMV population consisted of seven haplotypes, including two haplotypes generated by reassortment and one involving recombination. The most frequent haplotypes (types for P1, MP, and CP regions, respectively) were I-I-I (37%), II-IIB-IIB (30%), and one of the reassortants, II-I-I (17%). Distribution of haplotypes was not uniform, indicating that AMV population was structured according to the geographic origin of isolates. Our results suggest that agroecological factors are involved in the maintenance of AMV genetic types, including the reassortant one, and in their geographic distribution.

Genetic variability and evolution of broad bean wilt virus 1: role of recombination, selection and gene flow.

Analysis of four genomic regions from 37 geographically diverse isolates of broad bean wilt virus 1 (BBWV-1) showed high genetic diversity in comparison to most plant viruses. Comparison of synonymous and nonsynonymous substitutions of the small coat protein gene (SCP) revealed negative selection for most amino acid positions. Phylogenetic analysis of SCP showed that some BBWV-1 isolates from distant geographical areas were genetically close, suggesting long-distance migration. Analysis of genetic differentiation revealed high gene flow between Spanish and Near Eastern subpopulations, which were separated from North-Central and South-Eastern European subpopulations. Finally, putative recombinant and reassortant genomes were also identified.

Potential Sources of Resistance for Melon to Nonpersistently Aphid-borne Viruses.

Two hundred and sixty-eight Cucumis melo and wild relative accessions were evaluated for resistance to Cucumber mosaic virus (CMV), Papaya ringspot virus strain W (PRSV-W), Watermelon mosaic virus (WMV), and Zucchini yellow mosaic virus (ZYMV). Symptom development and systemic infection based on double antibody sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays were monitored. Sources of resistance were scarce. However, a number of them were found among the C. melo accessions tested. Thus, the accession C-189 behaved similarly to PI 161375 and showed resistance to "common" CMV strains although it was infected by a "song" type CMV. For WMV, the accessions C-768 and C-425, although infected, exhibited very mild symptoms, and recovery from infection occurred in some occasions in the former. A similar trait was also found in C-105, although in this case symptoms rarely appear and part of the plants are not infected. In addition, C-105 was highly resistant to virus transmission by Aphis gossypii, similarly to PI 161375. Accessions C-885 and C-769 exhibited resistance to PRSV-W, WMV, and ZYMV; therefore they are potential sources of multiple resistance. Resistance traits were also found in wild relatives that could be exploited when interspecific barriers with C. melo can be circumvented.

Occurrence, Distribution, and Relative Incidence of Mosaic Viruses Infecting Field-Grown Melon in Spain.

The main areas for field-grown melon (Cucumis melo) production in Spain were surveyed for the occurrence and relative incidence of cucumber mosaic virus (CMV), papaya ringspot virus-watermelon strain (PRSV-W), watermelon mosaic virus-2 (WMV-2), and zucchini yellow mosaic virus (ZYMV) during the growing seasons of 1995 and 1996. Samples from 1,152 plants showing symptoms of virus infection were collected from commercial melon fields and analyzed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). CMV and WMV-2 were the most frequently found viruses, both by the number of locations and by their incidence in each location. In contrast, PRSV-W and ZYMV were detected in fewer sites and at lower incidences. PRSV-W was not found in 1996. In 79% of the samples, only one virus was detected; 15% of the samples were doubly infected. Both the incidence of plants showing symptoms of viral infection and the relative incidence of each of the four viruses varied according to the region, while the main trends of virus distribution were similar for 1995 and 1996.