Distribution and molecular characterization of Citrus leaf blotch virus from Actinidia in Shaanxi province, China

Abstract

Kiwi fruit (Actinidia spp.) is one of the most important fruit crops in the world. Shaanxi is the largest kiwi fruit growing area in China. In this study, field investigation and virus detection showed that Citrus leaf blotch virus (CLBV) commonly occurred in Shaanxi Province and the average incidence rate was 28.53%. In total, some 60 complete nucleotide sequences of movement protein (MP) and coat protein (CP) genes of CLBV were obtained from different regions of Shaanxi. Phylogenetic analysis showed that CLBV had obvious host specialization. The study of CLBV isolates in kiwi fruit preliminarily revealed that CLBV was not significantly associated with the host’s geographic location. The results provide important information for further clarifying the distribution and genetic diversity of CLBV in regions of kiwi fruit production in Shaanxi and lay the foundation for in-depth study of the molecular characteristics and epidemiology of the virus.