Molecular Detection and Comparative Sequence Analysis of Viruses Infecting Fig Trees in Turkey

Abstract

Several viruses infecting fig trees in Turkey have been identified recently. The samples were collected from the commonest fig cultivars showing typical mosaic symptoms and from symptomless plants from different fig growing regions of Turkey. They were tested for Fig leaf mottle‐associated virus 1‐2 (FLMaV1‐2), Fig mosaic virus (FMV), Fig latent virus‐1 (FLV‐1), Fig mild mottle‐associated virus (FMMaV), Arkansas fig closterovirus 1‐2 (AFCV1‐2), Fig badnavirus‐1 (FBV‐1) and Fig cryptic virus (FCV) by PCR and sequence analyses. One hundred fig trees were tested, and 83% of tested samples were found to be infected by at least one virus. Complex infections were detected in most of the samples, and the most common viruses were FBV‐1 and FMV with 82 and 79% infection ratios, respectively. The sequence analyses confirmed virus identity except for AFCV‐1 for which no sequence data are available in GenBank. Based on phylogenetic analysis, the sequences clustered into seven groups: FLV‐1, FMMaV, FBV‐1, FCV, FMV, AFCV‐1, FLMaV‐1, as expected, and no correlation was found between Turkish isolates depending on cultivars and provinces for these viruses.

Detection and Molecular Variability of Fig Fleck‐Associated Virus and Fig Cryptic Virus in Iran

“…In contrast to FFkaV which detected from all visited gardens, FMV was just occurred in Markazi (7.5%) and Tehran (14%) provinces. Although FCV and FFkaV are not considered to be as the main viral agents responsible for FMD, but we detected these viruses in single or mixed infections in FMD-affected (Elci et al 2012), mixed infections of FCV, FFkaV and FMV have not been tested before. The phylogenetic relationship and population genetics of Iranian FCV and FFkaV isolates were investigated by analysing a portion of the CP gene sequence of FCV and of the RdRp gene of FFkaV isolates.…”

“…Although mixed infection between FCV and other fig infecting viruses has been previously reported in fig plantations in Turkey (Elci et al. ), mixed infections of FCV, FFkaV and FMV have not been tested before. The phylogenetic relationship and population genetics of Iranian FCV and FFkaV isolates were investigated by analysing a portion of the CP gene sequence of FCV and of the RdRp gene of FFkaV isolates.…”

“…Virion consists of an isometric particle and two monocistronic double-stranded RNA (Elbeaino et al 2011b). The incidence of FCV has been recently reported in fig trees from six different Mediterranean countries with an average infection of 20% (Elbeaino et al 2011b;Elci et al 2012).…”

“…Fig mosaic disease (FMD) is a common, worldwide spread, viral disease of fig trees (Martelli ; Elci et al. ). It was initially reported in California (Condit and Horne ).…”

“…Traditional propagation techniques of fig probably favoured the spread of viruses throughout the country which increased management difficulties (Shahmirzaie et al 2012). Fig mosaic disease (FMD) is a common, worldwide spread, viral disease of fig trees (Martelli 2011;Elci et al 2012). It was initially reported in California (Condit and Horne 1933).…”