Serological and Molecular Study of Bean Common Mosaic Virus in Zanjan Province

Bean common mosaic virus (BCMV) is one of the most important diseases that reduce the yield of common bean worldwide. To detect and identify of BCMV from common bean fields in Zanjan province, 130 samples were collected that showing mosaic, vein stripe, chlorotic spot and leaf deformation symptoms in 2014. BCMV infection in these samples was assayed by DAS-ELISA using polyclonal antibody. Indicator plant, Chenopodium quinoa, was used to purify virus biologically and then pathogenicity test was carried out on susceptible bean variety, Akhtar. A fragment of viral genome was amplified by polymerase chain reaction using specific primers designed for a part of the coat protein gene and then sequenced by Macrogen Company. The results of ELISA test showed the highest disease incidence in collected samples from Zanjan University fields and lowest number was observed in Sookakrizi and Nalbandan. Moreover, the comparison of the obtained sequence with other viruses in GenBank database showed the highest similarity (99%) with a BCMV isolate with Genbank accession number AF361337 from South Africa. A phylogenetic tree was also constructed by MEGA6 software. This isolate was grouped in the same clade as other isolates from Iran which indicates a low genetic variation for this virus in an especial geographical region.