MOLECULAR IDENTIFICATION OF POTYVIRUSES IN DUTCH STOCKS OF NARCISSUS

Abstract

Mixed infections of potyviruses and other viruses occur very frequently in Narcissus. Isolation and characterization of individual potyviruses from Narcissus has partially failed sofar, because other host plants have not been found. In the Netherlands, three different potyviruses from Narcissus were distinguished on the basis of symptomology, viz. narcissus yellow stripe virus, narcissus silver streak virus and narcissus late season yellows virus. We have applied general PCR on various Narcissus samples to identify these viruses at the molecular level and to establish their relationships by sequence analysis of parts of their coat protein cistrons. We conclude that at least three different potyviruses occur in Dutch stocks of Narcissus and that narcissus silver streak virus is identical to narcissus late season yellows virus. Of the other two potyviruses, one occurred in N. tazetta and is probably identical to the narcissus degeneration virus described in England. A third potyvirus was detected together with NLSYV in a sample with symptoms of 'yellow stripe'.