Molecular detection of Turnip yellows virus (TuYV) infecting alfalfa in Iran

Abstract

Symptomatic alfalfa leaf samples were collected from Western Iran. RT-PCR was performed using degenerate primers resulting in amplification of a fragment approximately 600 bp in size corresponding to the coat protein (CP) gene of luteoviruses. BLAST analysis of the CP nucleotide sequences revealed the highest similarity (96–97%) with Turnip yellows virus (TuYV) isolates. The present study shows for the first time the occurrence of TuYV in Iran.