Molecular identification of allexiviruses in a complex mixture of garlic viruses in Latium (central Italy)

Abstract

Allium sativum L. grown in Latium (central Italy) was shown to be infected by several common garlic viruses of the genera Potyvirus, Carlavirus and Allexivirus. Multiple viral infection with members of all three genera was found in most samples. In particular, the allexiviruses Garlic virus B (GarV-B), Garlic virus D (GarV-D) and Garlic virus X (GarV-X) were detected by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) assay using both degenerate genus-specific and species-specific primer sets. Moreover, molecular phylogenetic relationships among the Italian isolates of GarV-B, GarV-D and GarV-X and isolates of the same and other allexivirus species were analyzed in a region including partial coat protein and nucleic acid binding protein (CP-NABP) genes. The present study reports the molecular characterization of one isolate of GarV-D and one isolate of GarV-X distantly related to those previously identified in Italy. Moreover, this is the first report of GarV-B in Italy.