Prevalence and molecular characterization of Turkish isolates of the rose viruses

Abstract

Roses are among the most important ornamental plants in the world. There are many biotic disease factors that cause damage to this important plant. The most important group among these is virus diseases. However, of the studies about rose viruses conducted worldwide, those in Turkey are limited. With the aim of determining the prevalence and genetic diversity of rose viruses, 332 rose plants showing virus and virus-like symptoms were collected in 14 provinces from four different geographic regions of Turkey. The samples were tested to determine the infection of nine different viruses infecting rose plants. As a result of the tests, prunus necrotic ringspot (PNRSV), rose cryptic virus-1 (RCV-1), rose spring dwarf-associated virus (RSDaV), rose yellow vein virus (RYVV), and apple mosaic virus (ApMV) infections were detected. It was determined that 94.27% of the samples were infected with at least one virus infection. While the virus causing the most infection was found to be PNRSV, the least one was determined as ApMV. With this result, PNRSV is determined as a significant virus disease for rose plants in Turkey. Based on their geographical origins, 25 PNRSV and RCV-1 isolates, 15 RSDaV and RYVV isolates, and 10 ApMV isolates were selected for further analysis and their partial genetic diversity was investigated. As a result of these analyzes, it was determined that PNRSV, RCV-1, and RSDaV isolates showed a high-sequence homology with each other and with world isolates. Rose ApMV isolates were found to form separate groups phylogenetically. RYVV, which is known to exist in a very limited number of countries, has been found to have up to 10% genetic differences and phylogenetically, three different groups were determined. Furthermore, to the best of our knowledge, these are the first reports of RCV-1 and RSDaV in Turkey. It was also found that Turkey is still free of rose rosette virus. Therefore, quarantine measurements should continue to be strictly enforced.