Vector transmission of parsley yellow leaf curl virus by the leafhopper Austroagallia sinuata.

Parsley yellow leaf curl virus (PYLCV) is a new member of the family Geminiviridae that has not yet been assigned to an established genus due to limited information about its biological properties. In this study, the ability of Austroagallia leafhoppers, which are commonly found on vegetable farms in Kerman province (Iran), to transmit this virus was studied. After a two-day acquisition access period, Austroagallia sp.

Genome characterization of parsley severe stunt-associated virus in Iran.

Parsley severe stunt-associated virus (PSSaV) is a recently identified nanovirus first reported in Germany. During a survey for identification of nanoviruses infecting apiaceous plants in south-eastern Iran, PSSaV was identified and characterized using a combination of rolling circle amplification (RCA) and high-throughput sequencing. Parsley plant samples were collected from vegetable production farms in Kerman province.

Isolation and characterization of a novel geminivirus from parsley.

Fresh leaf vegetables are a significant part of the Persian food. Following a survey for identification of nanoviruses and geminivirus infecting leaf vegetables, a novel geminivirus was identified in a diseased parsley sample showing upward marginal leaf curling, marginal leaf yellowing, dwarfing and reduced leaf size in south-eastern Iran. The genome was identified through combination of rolling circle amplification (RCA) and high throughput sequencing (HTS) approaches.

Identification of the wild and cultivated hosts of wheat dwarf virus and oat dwarf virus in Iran.

In the last decade two mastreviruses, (WDV) and (ODV) have been reported from cereal farms in Iran. In a survey, wild and cultivated hosts of these mastreviruses were studied during 2015 to 2017. Symptomatic small grain cereal samples and weed species were collected and assayed for WDV and/or ODV infection by PCR.

Novel nanovirus and associated alphasatellites identified in milk vetch plants with chlorotic dwarf disease in Iran.

Members of the family Nanoviridae are multi-component single-stranded DNA viruses that infect a variety of plant species. Using a combination of conventional PCR and high throughput sequencing-based approach, we identified a novel nanovirus infecting two symptomatic milk vetch plants (Astragalus myriacanthus Boiss.; family Fabaceae) showing marginal leaf chlorosis, little leaves and dwarfing in Iran.

Identification of a new turncurtovirus in the leafhopper Circulifer haematoceps and the host plant species Sesamum indicum.

Turncurtoviruses (family: Geminiviridae; genus: Turncurtovirus) appear to have a high degree of genetic variation in Iran. Leafhoppers of the species Circulifer haematoceps (Mulsant and Rey, 1855) (family: Cicadellidae) were collected in 2014 from three geographical regions in south-eastern Iran (Orzoeyeh, Jiroft and Sirjan; Kerman province) and screened for the presence of turncurtoviruses using a combination of PCR and rolling circle amplification (RCA) methods. Eleven genomes of turncurtovirus were recovered and sequenced.

Identification of a Nanovirus-Alphasatellite Complex in Sophora alopecuroides.

Viruses in the genus Nanovirus of the family Nanoviridae generally have eight individually encapsidated circular genome components and have been predominantly found infecting Fabaceae plants in Europe, Australia, Africa and Asia. For over a decade Sophora alopecuroides L. (Fabaceae) plants have been observed across Iran displaying dwarfing, yellowing, stunted leaves and yellow vein banding.

Splicing features in the expression of the complementary-sense genes of Beet curly top Iran virus.

Beet curly top Iran virus (BCTIV) is a distinct geminivirus which has been reported from sugar-beet-growing farms in Iran. In this study, the role of the splicing in expression of complementary-sense genes of BCTIV was studied. Total RNA was extracted from BCTIV-infected tissue, and the predicted intron position of complementary-sense mRNA transcripts was amplified by RT-PCR followed by cloning of the amplicons.

Molecular diversity of turncurtoviruses in Iran.

Turnip curly top virus (TCTV) is the only member of the newly established genus Turncurtovirus (family Geminiviridae). As part of an ongoing study to identify additional plant hosts and the diversity of turncurtoviruses, between 2012 and 2014, we sampled symptomatic turnip plants and other crops in the provinces Fars and Khorasan Razavi (southern and northeastern Iran, respectively). Infection by turncurtoviruses was tested by PCR and/or rolling-circle amplification (RCA) coupled with restriction enzyme digests.

Analysis of watermelon chlorotic stunt virus and tomato leaf curl Palampur virus mixed and pseudo-recombination infections.

Watermelon chlorotic stunt virus (WmCSV) and tomato leaf curl Palampur virus (ToLCPMV) are limiting factors for cucurbit production in south and southeastern Iran. ToLCPMV infects all cucurbit crops (except watermelons) whereas WmCSV is somewhat limited to watermelon, causing detrimental effects on fruit production. In a survey, we detected WmCSV in all watermelon growing farms in Fars province (southern Iran).

Molecular characterization and field survey of Iranian potato virus X isolates.

Six hundred and one symptomatic potato samples were collected from nine provinces in Iran. Screening by double-antibody sandwich enzyme linked immunosorbent assay using a potato virus X (PVX) together with a few potyviruses polyclonal antibodies, produced positive reactions in 4.3 % of samples against PVX.

Incidence and characterization of Potato virus V infections in Iran.

A survey was carried out to determine the extent of Potato virus V (PVV) infection, together with other potyviruses, in Iran in both commercial and local potato varieties. We found a low incidence of PVV in commercial varieties compared to a local potato cultivar Zardi, in which we noted a PVV infection up to ~32.9 %.

Genetic diversity and host range studies of turnip curly top virus.

Turnip curly top virus (TCTV) is a unique geminivirus that has recently been characterised as infecting turnips in Iran. The genome of TCTV shares <68 % pairwise identity with other geminiviruses and has a genome organisation similar to that of curtoviruses and topocuvirus. The replication-associated protein (Rep) bears the highest similarity to curtovirus Reps (48.

Fulfilling Koch's postulates for beet curly top Iran virus and proposal for consideration of new genus in the family Geminiviridae.

Beet curly top Iran virus (BCTIV) is a divergent geminivirus with biological properties similar to those of curtoviruses; however, the virus is distinct from curtoviruses phylogenetically and in its genome organisation. The replication-associated protein is phylogenetically more closely related to those of mastreviruses than to those of curtoviruses whereas the capsid protein shares high amino acid sequence identity (77-83 %) with those of curtoviruses. The 17 BCTIV genomes from Iran share ~77 % pairwise nucleotide sequence identity with spinach curly top Arizona virus (SCTAV) from Arizona, USA, which was characterised recently.

Turnip curly top virus, a highly divergent geminivirus infecting turnip in Iran.

From 2006 onwards turnip crops in Fars province, Iran, have been noted with unusual leaf curling and vein swelling symptoms which are characteristic of the leafhopper-transmitted viruses of the genus Curtovirus (family Geminiviridae). Rolling circle amplification was used to clone viruses from five turnip isolates exhibiting leaf curl symptoms. Analysis of the sequences showed them to have >93% sequence identity and to be distinct from all other geminiviruses previously characterised.

Complete sequences of tomato leaf curl Palampur virus isolates infecting cucurbits in Iran.

Tomato leaf curl disease (TLCD) and and tomato yellow leaf curl (TYLCD) is caused by a number of begomovirus species that collectively threaten tomato production worldwide. We report here that an ongoing TLCD and TYLCD epidemic in Iran is caused by variants of tomato leaf curl Palampur virus (ToLCPMV), a newly proposed begomovirus species previously only detected in India. Besides infecting tomatoes, we identified ToLCPMV as the causal agent of a cucurbit disease that has devastated greenhouse cucumber and melon farms in Jiroft, southeastern Iran.

Incidence of Viruses Infecting Tomato and Their Natural Hosts in the Southeast and Central Regions of Iran.

A survey was conducted to determine the incidence of Cucumber mosaic virus (CMV), Beet curly top virus (BCTV), Tomato yellow leaf curl virus (TYLCV), Tomato chlorotic spot virus (TcSV), Potato virus Y (PVY), Potato virus S (PVS), Tomato spotted wilt virus (TSWV), Tomato ringspot virus (TRSV), Tomato aspermy virus (TAV), Arabis mosaic virus (ArMV), Tobacco streak virus (TSV), Tomato bushy stunt virus (TBSV), Tobacco mosaic virus (TMV), and Tomato mosaic virus (ToMV) on tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) in the major horticultural crop growing areas in the southeast and central regions of Iran. A total of 1,307 symptomatic leaf samples from fields and 603 samples from greenhouses were collected from January 2003 to July 2005 in five southeastern and central provinces of Iran. Samples of symptomatic plants were analyzed for virus infection by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) using specific polyclonal antibodies.

Genetic diversity and distribution of tomato-infecting begomoviruses in Iran.

The incidence and severity of tomato leaf curl disease (TLCD) is increasing worldwide. Here we assess the diversity and distribution within tomato producing areas of Iran of begomoviruses that cause this disease. Tomato with typical TLCD symptoms and asymptomatic weeds were collected in 2005 and 2006 and tested for the presence of begomovirus DNA using polymerase chain reaction (PCR).

Analysis of the biological and molecular variability of Watermelon mosaic virus isolates from Iran.

Watermelon mosaic virus (WMV) is one of the most important viruses that causes different symptoms in Cucurbitaceae. WMV is a potyvirus with a worldwide distribution, but occurs most commonly in temperate and Mediterranean regions. Cucurbit species grown in Yazd, Esfahan, West Azerbaijan, Hormozgan, and Kerman provinces were surveyed for the relative incidence of WMV in 2004-2005.

Occurrence, Distribution, and Relative Incidence of Seven Viruses Infecting Greenhouse-Grown Cucurbits in Iran.

Greenhouse-grown cucurbit crops in several Iranian regions were surveyed for the incidence of Cucumber mosaic virus (CMV), Squash mosaic virus (SqMV), Papaya ring spot virus-type W (PRSV-W), Watermelon mosaic virus-2 (WMV-2), Zucchini yellow mosaic virus (ZYMV), Cucumber necrosis virus (CuNV) and Tomato spotted wilt virus (TSWV) from September 2002 to June 2004. In all, 1,304 random and 1,085 symptomatic leaf or fruit samples were collected. Samples were analyzed for virus infection by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.