title: Genetic diversity and distribution of tomato-infecting begomoviruses in Iran.
abstract: The incidence and severity of tomato leaf curl disease (TLCD) is increasing worldwide. Here we assess the diversity and distribution within tomato producing areas of Iran of begomoviruses that cause this disease. Tomato with typical TLCD symptoms and asymptomatic weeds were collected in 2005 and 2006 and tested for the presence of begomovirus DNA using polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Analysis of cloned and sequenced PCR products revealed that both mono- and bipartite begomoviruses are associated with TLCD in Iran. Furthermore, our results confirmed the symptomless infection with mono- and bipartite begomoviruses of two weed species, Chrozophora hierosolymitana Spreng (Euphobiaceae) and Herniaria sp. (Caryophyllaceae). Eighteen Iranian begomovirus isolates were classified into two major groups and two or three subgroups according to the 5'-proximal 200 nucleotides of the coat protein (CP) gene or the N-terminal 600 nucleotides of the Rep gene. Whereas most of the monopartite isolates showed closest similarity to tomato yellow leaf curl virus-Gezira (TYLCV-Ge), the three bipartite isolates were most similar to Tomato leaf curl New Delhi virus (ToLCNDV). Mixed mono- and a bipartite begomovirus infections were detected in both tomato and C. hierosolymitana. Our results indicate that the tomato producing areas in central, southern, and southeastern Iran are threatened by begomoviruses originating from both the Mediterranean basin and the Indian subcontinent.
authors.affiliation: Department of Plant Protection, College of Agriculture, Shahid Bahonar University of Kerman, Kerman, Iran.
authors.forename: Roya
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Fazeli
authors.forename: Jahangir
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Heydarnejad
authors.forename: Hossain
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Massumi
authors.forename: Mahdi
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Shaabanian
authors.forename: Arvind
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Varsani
mesh_terms: D053839:Begomovirus / Q000145:classification* / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D029748:Caryophyllaceae / Q000821:virology; D016000:Cluster Analysis; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics; D019665:Euphorbiaceae / Q000821:virology; D014644:Genetic Variation; D005838:Genotype; D007492:Iran; D018551:Solanum lycopersicum / Q000821:virology*; D017720:Molecular Epidemiology; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D010802:Phylogeny; D010935:Plant Diseases / Q000821:virology*; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA; D017385:Sequence Homology; D014764:Viral Proteins / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D004279:DNA, Viral; D014764:Viral Proteins