Dipsacus fullonum: an alternative host of the Sunflower chlorotic mottle virus

GIOLITTI, FABIÁN; BEJERMAN, NICOLÁS.; LENARDON, SERGIO

JOURNAL OF PHYTOPATHOLOGY-PHYTOPATHOLOGISCHE ZEITSCHRIFT

WILEY-BLACKWELL PUBLISHING, INC

Año: 2009 vol. 157 p. 325 - 328

0931-1785

Dipsacus fullonum L. is a biennial weed that is widely spread in the Pampean region of Argentina. Plant of this species showing leaf mosaic symptoms were collected near sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) crops infected with Sunflower chlorotic mottle virus (SuCMoV). Symptomatic plants were tested by biological, serological and molecular assays. Sunflower and Nicotiana occidentalis L. plants mechanically inoculated with extracts from symptomatic D. fullonum leaves developed typical SuCMoV symptoms. Samples were DAS-ELISA positive when probed with a SuCMoV antiserum. RT-PCR was used to amplify the whole coat protein gene of the infecting virus. An 807 pb fragment was amplified, cloned and sequenced. The deduced amino acid sequence (EU606023) shared 96% amino acid identity with the SuCMoV sequence (AF255677). These results indicate that D. fullonum mosaic is caused by an isolate of SuCMoV. Thus, this finding has epidemiological relevance since this weed may act as natural virus reservoir.