Phylogenetic analysis of partial sequences from Fig mosaic virus isolates in Turkey

Abstract

Fig mosaic virus (FMV), which was described recently, is the only characterized causal agent of fig mosaic disease (FMD). It has six RNA segments and belongs to the Bunyaviridae family. In order to determine the genetic diversity of Turkish FMV isolates, the most common fig cultivars showing FMD symptoms were collected from different fig-growing provinces of Turkey. Nucleoprotein (Np) and Glycoprotein (Gp) gene-specific primers of FMV were used for RT-PCR analysis. According to RT-PCR results, 71 of 90 samples from 20 different cultivars and unknown fig seedlings were found to be infected by FMV. Among them, 41 isolates were sequenced and subjected to phylogenetic analyses based on the partial Gp and Np sequences at the amino acid level by the neighbor-joining method. The isolates showed more than 80% identity with reference FMV isolates (Acc. nos. FM991954.1 and FM864225.2). Based on phylogenetic analysis, the sequences clustered into two main groups for Np and Gp regions. Significant relationships between FMV isolates based on geographic origin and cultivars were not observed.