A unique nucleotide sequence variant in the coat protein region of the genome of aMaize dwarf mosaic virusisolate

Abstract

During our recent four years epidemiological studies ofMaize dwarf mosaic virus (MDMV) populations in Hungary, when 86 virus isolates were collected and analysed, a unique nucleic acid sequence variant was found in the 3’end region of the viral genome. According to our sequence studies, which also included all available MDMV sequences from different databanks, the coat protein region of the viral genome prooved to be quite identical. However, in several cases an insertion was located in the same position of the coat protein region. In the unique sequence variant we also found a 27 nt deletion in addition to the insertion. According to the extensive sequence search this deletion is unique and have been located only in two other potyvirus coat protein regions, while never in the case of MDMV. The potential role of this deletion in the virus infectivity, replication or other biological characteristics is discussed.