Genetic diversity of M (PVM) in the major potato growing region in the Indo-Gangetic plain and characterization of a distinct strain of PVM occurring in India.

M (PVM) is one of the most prevalent viruses infecting potatoes worldwide, showing a wide range of diversity in their populations; however, the diversity and genome information of PVM occurring in India is hardly known. The present study serologically detected the PVM in 22.8% of leaf samples collected from the potato fields, generated 13 coat protein (CP) genes and one complete genome sequence for the isolates from India, and identified four differential hosts confirming PVM-Del-144 as a distinct strain of PVM occurring in India.