Detection and phylogenetic analysis of saffron latent virus in saffron fields of South Khorasan and Razavi provinces

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

1 1Department of herbal medicine, School of Agriculture, Birjand University.

2 Department of herbal medicine, School of Agriculture, Birjand University.

3 Plant Protection Research Department, Khorasan Razavi Agricultural and Natural Resources Research and Education Center, AREEO, Mashhad, Iran

Abstract

The Saffron Latent Virus (SaLV) is a newly discovered species belonging to the Potyvirus genus, identified in Iran. Despite most of its symptoms remaining hidden, it causes considerable damage to saffron fields. However, no previous studies have investigated the different strains of this virus based on its coat protein. To address this, we collected 152 samples of saffron leaves, flowers, and corms from fields in South Khorasan and Razavi Khorasan provinces, both with and without symptoms like stunting, yellowing, and twisting. After extracting RNA, the presence of SaLV was examined using reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) with specific primers targeting the coat protein. The findings revealed that 92 out of 152 samples (60%) were infected with the virus. Subsequently, Seven representative samples, each from a selected region were sequenced. Phylogenetic analysis using MEGAX software showed that the virus strains formed two distinct groups, and the strains studied were placed in the second group. Interestingly, strains from the same geographical region and product were distributed among different groups, suggesting that geographical separation and host type did not significantly impact the viral diversity. This research is the first of its kind to detect the virus in saffron flowers and corms and investigate the diversity of its new strains based on the coat protein in Iran.

Keywords

Journal of Applied Research in Plant Protection

Articles in Press, Accepted Manuscript
Available Online from 21 November 2023

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History

  • Receive Date: 13 May 2023
  • Revise Date: 20 August 2023
  • Accept Date: 20 August 2023

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