Molecular and Biological Characteristics of Some Iranian Isolates of Cucumber mosaic virus from North West Region of Iran

Cucumber mosaic virus (CMV) is one of the most important infectious plant viruses in Iran. For evaluating infection phenotypes of different isolates 342 samples of cucurbitaceous and tomato plants were collected from different locations in the northwest region of Iran in 2012. After screening by enzyme-linked immune sorbent assay (ELISA), 91 CMV-infected samples were identified. Eight representative CMV isolates whose phylogenetic positions had been determined were selected and compared for their pathological features in zucchini (Cucurbita pepo cv. Ps) plants. According to the determined disease indexes, the isolates were placed in two main groups. Also, evaluation of 2b (viral suppressor of RNA silencing) and CP expression with semi-quantitative RT-PCR showed different concentration of the isolates in test plants. The subgroup IB members from Iran induced more severe symptoms on the inoculated indicator test plants compared to the isolates in subgroup IA. Thus, there seemed to be a correlation between subgroup affiliation and biological properties of the CMV isolates from Iran.
Keywords: CMV, Phylogenetic, Subgroup, Phenotype.