Molecular detection, geographical distribution and genetic diversity of blueberry latent virus in highbush blueberries in Serbia

Abstract

This study describes molecular detection, high prevalence and geographical distribution of blueberry latent virus (BlLV) in Serbia. BlLV was discovered in the USA and the main signature of the virus is latent infection. A number of 110 samples from 14 highbush blueberry cultivars collected from different locations in 9 municipalities of Serbia were tested by RT-PCR with BlLV-specific primers. The presence of BlLV was confirmed in 69 samples (62.7%) in all surveyed locations. BlLV was confirmed in single infections, but also in a mixed infection with blueberry mosaic-associated virus and blueberry red ringspot virus. To access the genetic diversity, direct sequencing of the fragment from the fusion protein gene of 14 Serbian isolates was done. Serbian isolates showed 99.64–100% nucleotide (nt) and 98.94–100% amino acid (aa) identity. In comparison with the available BlLV sequences of the isolates from Bosnia and Herzegovina, Japan, South Korea and the USA, our isolates showed 99.29–100 nt and 97.87–100% aa similarity.