Presence and characterization of Zucchini yellow mosaic virus in watermelon in Serbia

Abstract

The presence of Zucchini yellow mosaic virus (ZYMV) in two out of seven watermelon production localities in Serbia during 2011 was investigated by analyzing leaves sampled from symptomatic and asymptomatic watermelon plants and utilizing DAS-ELISA test. In the locality of Gornji Tavankut, ZYMV was detected in 23.08% of tested plants in single infections, and in the locality of Silbas it was detected in 35.29% of tested plants in mixed infections with Cucumber mosaic virus and Alfalfa mosaic virus. ZYMV was successfully mechanically transmitted from naturally infected watermelon plants to Cucurbita pepo 'Ezra F1'. Molecular detection was performed by RT-PCR and amplification of part of the gene for nuclear inclusions, gene of coat protein and part of 3' non-coding region, which confirmed the identification of the ZYMV isolates. Phylogenetic analysis revealed grouping of the isolate originating from watermelon with other isolates from Serbia and Central Europe within A-I subgroup. Analysis of amino acid sequences of the N terminal end of the CP gene revealed that isolate 550-11 belongs to the Central European branch.

Prisustvo virusa žutog mozaika cukinija (Zucchini yellow mosaic virus, ZYMV) na dva od sedam lokaliteta gajenja lubenice u Srbiji tokom 2011. godine utvrđeno je analizom uzoraka lišća simptomatičnih i asimptomatičnih biljaka lubenice primenom DAS-ELISA metode. Na lokalitetu Gornji Tavankut, ZYMV je dokazan u 23,08% testiranih biljaka u pojedinačnim infekcijama, a na lokalitetu Silbaš u 35,29% testiranih biljaka u mešanim infekcijama sa virusom mozaika krastavca i virusom mozaika lubenice. ZYMV je uspešno mehanički prenesen sa prirodno zaraženih biljaka lubenice na Cucurbita pepo 'Ezra F1'. Molekularna detekcija obavljena je RT-PCR metodom umnožavanjem dela gena za nuklearne inkluzije, gena za protein omotača i dela 3' neprepisujućeg regiona, čime je potvrđena identifikacija izolata. Filogenetske analize pokazale su grupisanje izolata poreklom iz lubenice sa drugim izolatima iz Srbije i Centralne Evrope u okviru A-I podgrupe. Analize aminokiselinske sekvence N-terminalnog kraja CP gena, takođe su pokazale pripadnost izolata 550-11 centralnoevropskoj grani.