Characterization and Genetic Structure of a Tospovirus Causing Chlorotic Ring Spots and Chlorosis Disease on Peanut; Comparison with Iranian and Polish Populations of Tomato yellow fruit ring virus.

A Tospovirus species was isolated from peanut plants showing chlorotic ring spots and chlorosis, and identified as Tomato yellow fruit ring virus (TYFRV) on the basis of its biological, serological, and molecular properties. In host range studies, a broad range of indicator plants was infected by the five isolates studied; all the isolates systemically infected Nicotiana tabacum cultivars and, thus, they were classified into the N-host-infecting type isolates of the virus. These isolates strongly reacted with TYFRV antibodies but not with the specific antibodies of other tospoviruses tested. Recombination analyses showed that the nucleoprotein gene of the peanut isolates and other isolates studied were nonrecombinant. In phylogenetic trees, the virus isolates were clustered in three genogroups: IRN-1, IRN-2, and a new group, POL; the peanut isolates fell into IRN-2 group. Multiple sequence alignments showed some genogroup-specific amino acid substitutions among the virus isolates studied. The results revealed the presence of negative selection in TYFRV populations. Also, the Iranian populations had higher nucleotide diversity compared with the Polish population. Genetic differentiation and gene flow analyses indicated that the populations from Iran and Poland and those belonging to different genogroups were partially differentiated populations. Our findings seem to suggest that there has been frequent gene flow between some populations of the virus in the mid-Eurasian region of Iran.

First Report of Tomato mosaic virus on Common Sow Thistle in Iran.

The natural incidence of Tomato mosaic virus (ToMV) in common sow thistle (Sonchus oleraceus) from vegetable fields was assessed to determine the role of this weed species as a virus inoculum source. Twenty sow thistle plants with virus-like foliar symptoms including mosaic and malformations were collected from five vegetable fields in Tehran province, Iran, and analyzed by double antibody sandwich (DAS)-ELISA for the presence of ToMV, Tobacco mosaic virus (TMV), and Cucumber mosaic virus (CMV) using specific polyclonal antibodies (Agdia, Elkhart, IN). Six out of the 20 sow thistle plants tested by ELISA were infected with ToMV. This virus was detected in three of five vegetable fields surveyed, while CMV and TMV were not detected. Mosaic symptoms were associated with the ToMV infection, similar to those caused by TMV in common sow thistle in Iran (2). Viral infection was confirmed by RT-PCR using previously described specific primers to amplify a region in the coat protein gene of ToMV (3). The RT-PCR resulted in the amplification of an expected fragment of ~480 bp from ToMV-infected but not from healthy plants. The nucleotide sequence of the amplified DNA fragment was purified (GeneJET Gel Extraction Kit, Fermentas, Germany), directly sequenced, and deposited in GenBank as Accession No. KF527464. BLAST analysis showed 95 to 97% and 98 to 100% identity at the nucleotide and amino acid levels, respectively, with comparable sequences of other ToMV isolates (GenBank AF062519, FN985165, GQ280794, and JX857634). Mechanical inoculation of sow thistle plants with sap of symptomatic sow thistles reproduced symptoms of field-infected sow thistles. The presence of ToMV in the inoculated plants was confirmed by ELISA and RT-PCR. This suggested that ToMV could be the causal agent of the disease on sow thistle. In our earlier studies, the distribution and genetic diversity of ToMV isolates infecting vegetable crops and weed plants were studied (1); however, to our knowledge, this is the first report of ToMV infecting common sow thistle in Iran. References: (1) V. Aghamohammadi et al. J. Plant Pathol. 95:339, 2013. (2) A. Alishiri et al. Plant Pathol. J. 29:260, 2013. (3) B. Letschert et al. J. Virol. Methods 106:10, 2002.

Detection and some properties of cowpea mild mottle virus isolated from soybean in Iran.

During 2006-2007 growing seasons, survey were carried to identify a virus disease causing mosaic of soybean in the field in Southern region (Khozestan Province) of Iran. To detect the viral infection, diseased leaf samples showing mild mosaic and leaf malformation were collected from soybean fields in Dezful, located in Khozestan Province. Infected samples were carried to the lab in a proper condition on ice packages. TPIA and DAS-ELISA serological tests were applied to identify the viral agent. To investigate the host-range, several indicator plants were mechanically inoculated under green-house condition. Seed transmission of CPMMV was examined using the seeds obtained from infected plants. The virus isolate was not found to be seed-borne in Clark variety of soybean. Different steps of ultracentrifugation including sucrose density gradient (10-40%) were carried out in order to obtain partial purified virus. On the basis of biological, serological and EM results, CPMMV-Carla virus was identified in the infected soybean samples. This is the first report of CPMMV infection of soybean in Iran.

Rapid diagnosis of soybean mosaic virus N soybean by tissue-print immunoassay and DIBA in comparison to other serological methods.

Soybean mosaic virus (SMV) is an important disease in soybean and is widely distributed in northern of Iran. SMV transmitted by soybean seed and detection of it is very important for disease management. In this study, several detection methods including DAS-ELISA, indirect-ELISA, tissue-print immunoassay (TPIA) and Dot immunobinding assay (DIBA) were optimized and compared with each other to identify the virus, using polyclonal antibody. For TPIA, nitrocellulose membrane was used to imprint fresh sections of healthy and infected plant materials, and for DIBA 10 microl of extracts was doted onto nitrocellulose membranes. Both membranes were incubated 1 hour in blocking buffer, and then incubated 2 h in 1:1000 dilution of IgG-conjugate. After incubation the membranes were washed three times with PBS-T buffer for 15 min. Then the membranes were incubated in substrate solution containing NBT/BCIP. After some minutes prints or blots of infected tissues turned dark violet, whereas prints or blots of healthy ones did not show any color changes. In some cases, substrate solution was Fast red, containing 0.2M Tris-HCl buffer and 2mM MgCl2, pH = 7.8, producing red color in infected prints or blots. Both methods are simple and TPIA is rapidly and easily applicable in the field. However, TPIA had some advantages over the others. TPIA is time-saving as there is no need for conventional sap extraction and also nitrocellulose membranes used for printing can be used in the field and stored for a long time or transported to another laboratory for process. These two methods can be used routinely for detection of SMV in many samples.

A Survey of Viruses Affecting French bean (Phaseolus vulgaris) in Iran Includes a First Report of Southern bean mosaic virus and Bean pod mottle virus.

A survey was conducted from 2003 to 2004 to identify viruses infecting common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) in different growing areas of East Azarbaejan Province of Iran. A total of 300 French bean samples with symptoms of viral infection (mosaic, vein clearing, leaf rolling, yellowing, and leaf distortion) were collected. The samples were tested for eight viruses using the tissue-blot immunoassay procedures (TBIA) (2) and double-antibody sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (DAS-ELISA) according to the manufacturer's instructions (DSMZ, Braun-schweig, Germany). ELISA tests for Alfalfa mosaic virus (AMV), Bean yellow mosaic virus (BYMV), Bean common mosaic virus (BCMV), Bean common mosaic necrosis virus (BCMNV), Cucumber mosaic virus (CMV), Bean leaf roll virus (BLRV), and Southern bean mosaic virus (SBMV) were used. In addition, antiserum was provided by S. A. Ghabrial (University of Kentucky, Lexington) to test for Bean pod mottle virus (BPMV). Serological tests showed that SBMV and BPMV were present in 12% (35 samples) and 5% (15 samples) of samples, respectively. BCMV, BCMNV, BYMV, BLRV, CMV, and AMV were more common and were detected in 155, 105, 80, 46, 30, and 10 samples of 300 samples, respectively. These six viruses were previously reported in other pulses and in French bean in Iran (1). The presence of SBMV and BPMV were verified in samples by transmission to French bean (Phaseolus vulgaris), cowpea (Vigna unguiculata), and soybean (Glycine max) indicator test plants (3,4). Inoculation with extracts from SBMV-positive plants produced systemic mottle and mosaic symptoms in soybean (cv. Gorgan-3) and French bean (cvs. Dubbele Witte and Cheete). In cowpea (cv. Mashad) and French bean (cv. Pinto), inoculation produced necrotic local lesions. Inoculation with extracts from BPMV-positive plants produced severe mosaic, leaf distortion, and puckering in soybean (cv. Gorgan-3) and French bean (cv. Ten-dergreen). No symptoms were observed in cowpea (cv. Mashad). Cvs. Pinto and Bountiful bean reacted with necrotic local lesions. All indicator test plants tested positive for the presence of SBMV or BPMV as expected using DAS-ELISA. To our knowledge, this is the first report of BPMV and SBMV naturally infecting French bean in Iran. These viruses can cause a serious problem to other leguminous crops grown in Iran. References: (1) W. J. Kaiser et al. Plant Dis. Rep. 52:687, 1968. (2) K. M. Makkouk and A. Comeau. Eur. J. Plant Pathol. 100:71, 1994. (3) J. S. Semancik. Bean pod mottle virus. No. 108 in: Descriptions of Plant Viruses. CMI/AAB, Kew, Surrey, England, 1972. (4) J. H. Tremain and R. I. Hamilton. Southern bean mosaic virus. No. 274 in: Descriptions of Plant Viruses. CMI/AAB, Kew, Surrey, England, 1983.

First Report of Bean pod mottle virus in Soybean in Iran.

Soybean (Glycine max (L.) Merr.) has been increasing in importance and acreage for the past 5 years in Iran and is now planted on approximately 108,000 ha. Previous surveys in Iran of viruses infecting soybean failed to identify Bean pod mottle virus (BPMV), but the incidence of other common viruses of soybean in the field has been reported (1). During October 2004, symptoms characteristic of those caused by BPMV including mosaic, puckering of trifoliate leaves, and delayed maturity of stems or green stems were observed in soybean fields in the Takhti Mahaleh, Versen, and Hashemabad areas located in the Gorgan Province. Sporadic incidence of plants infected with BPMV has been usually of minor importance to growers. Symptoms were often overlooked or considered to be physiological disorders. A visual assessment was made to determine incidence of green stem in the commonly grown soybean cv. Sahar. Forty soybean plants showing symptoms of crinkling, mottling, green stem, and retaining green leaves were sampled by collecting one trifoliate leaf near the top of the plant. All samples were tested in parallel for BPMV using double-antibody sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (DAS-ELISA). BPMV was detected in 40% of the samples. Seven of the samples shown to be infected with BPMV using DAS-ELISA were mechanically (2) transferred to soybean seedlings in the greenhouse. These plants developed systemic mottle symptoms typical of those caused by BPMV and tested positive for BPMV using DAS-ELISA. The distribution of BPMV within soybean-growing regions, exploration of potential virus reservoirs, and economic impact of this virus have yet to be determined. There is no published report on the presence of potential BPMV vectors including the bean leaf beetle (Cerotoma trifurcata) from soybean fields in Iran. To our knowledge, this is the first report of BPMV in Iran. References: (1) A. R. Golnaraghi et al. Plant Dis.88:1069, 2004. (2) R. Louie et al. Plant Dis.84:1133, 2000.

Occurrence of Tospoviruses in Ornamental and Weed Species in Markazi and Tehran Provinces in Iran.

Damage to agricultural crops by tospoviruses has occurred sporadically in Iran in the past; however, since 2000, outbreaks of tospoviruses have been recorded every year. The most affected ornamental crops were surveyed in two main cultivation areas in provinces of Markazi (Mahallat) and Tehran in 2000-01 and 2001-02. A few weed species also were collected. In all, 513 samples (with or without any conspicuous virus symptoms) were collected and analyzed by double- and triple-antibody sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) with polyclonal antibodies to Tomato spotted wilt virus (TSWV), Impatiens necrotic spot virus (INSV), and Tomato Varamin virus (ToVV), a new Tospovirus sp. from Iran. These viruses frequently were detected in samples of many different ornamentals and often in mixed infections, whereas Iris yellow spot virus (IYSV) was detected in only four samples. ToVV also was found in weeds growing in Chrysanthemum fields and in a Cuscuta sp. Applying double-antibody sandwich ELISA, no positive reactions were found with Tomato chlorotic spot virus (TCSV). Of the total of 513 samples tested, 345 samples did not react with any Tospovirus antisera. In Tehran, INSV was identified in 21 samples (10%), IYSV in 4 samples (2%), TSWV in 16 samples (8%), and ToVV in 22 samples (11%). In Markazi province, INSV was identified in 24 samples (8%), IYSV in 1 sample (0.5%), TSWV in 40 samples (13%), and ToVV in 36 samples (12%). ToVV was found to prevail in Tehran province and TSWV in Markazi. Thrips spp. present at the plant sampling sites also were collected and identified.

Occurrence and Relative Incidence of Viruses Infecting Soybeans in Iran.

A survey was conducted to determine the incidence of Alfalfa mosaic virus (AlMV), Bean common mosaic virus (BCMV), Bean yellow mosaic virus (BYMV), Blackeye cowpea mosaic virus (BlCMV), Cucumber mosaic virus (CMV), Pea enation mosaic virus (PEMV), Peanut mottle virus (PeMoV), Soybean mosaic virus (SMV), Tobacco mosaic virus (TMV), Tobacco ringspot virus (TRSV), Tobacco streak virus (TSV), Tomato ringspot virus (ToRSV), and Tomato spotted wilt virus (TSWV) on soybean (Glycine max) in Iran. Totals of 3,110 random and 1,225 symptomatic leaf samples were collected during the summers of 1999 and 2000 in five provinces of Iran, where commercial soybean is grown, and tested by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) using specific polyclonal antibodies. Serological diagnoses were confirmed by electron microscopy and host range studies. The highest virus incidence among the surveyed provinces was recorded in Mazandaran (18.6%), followed by Golestan (15.7%), Khuzestan (14.2%), Ardabil (13.9%), and Lorestan (13.5%). Incidence of viruses in decreasing order was SMV (13.3%), TSWV (5.4%), TRSV (4.2%), TSV (4.1%), PEMV (2.9%), BYMV (2.2%), ToRSV (2.1%), AlMV (1.3%), BCMV (0.8%), and CMV (0.6%). Additionally, 1.5% of collected leaf samples had positive reactions in ELISA with antiserum to TMV, indicating the possible infection of soybeans in Iran with a Tobamovirus that is related serologically to TMV. Of 195 leaves from plants showing soybean pod set failure syndrome (PSF) in Mazandaran and Lorestan, only 14 (7.2%) samples had viral infection. No correlation was observed between PSF and presence of the 13 viruses tested, suggesting the involvement of other viruses or factors in this syndrome. To investigate the presence of seed-borne viruses, including SMV, TRSV, ToRSV, and TSV, 7,830 soybean seeds were collected randomly at harvesting time from the major sites of soybean seed production located in Mazandaran and Golestan provinces. According to ELISA analyses of germinated seedlings, 7.1 and 8.9% of the seed samples from Golestan and Mazandaran provinces, respectively, transmitted either SMV, TRSV, ToRSV, or TSV through seed. We also showed that SMV and other seed transmissible viruses, as well as TSWV, usually are the most prevalent viruses in soybean fields in Iran. In this survey, natural occurrence of AlMV, BCMV, BlCMV, BYMV, CMV, PEMV, PeMoV, and TSWV was reported for the first time on soybeans in Iran.

First Report of Papaya ringspot virus on Papaya in Iran.

Papaya, a popular fruit crop native to the American tropics, was introduced to the southern tropical provinces of Iran in the 1990s and its cultivation is widely increasing in these areas. During April 2000, severe leaf distortion and mottling were observed on papaya trees (Carica papaya) in Hormozgan Province in southern Iran. Affected trees were stunted and yielded less fruit. Samples of papaya leaf extracts (1:10 wt/vol) in 0.01 M potassium phosphate buffer (pH 7.0) were mechanically inoculated on indicator host plants, causing local lesions on Chenopodium amaranticolor and C. quinoa and chlorotic spots followed by systemic mosaic symptoms on Cucurbita pepo. Papaya ringspot virus (PRSV) was detected in the leaf samples of papaya plants and the inoculated Cucurbita pepo plants using double antibody sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (DAS-ELISA) with PRSV-specific antisera (polyclonal antibody AS-0086 and PV-0244, DSMZ, Braunschweig, Germany). PRSV causes one of the most destructive diseases of papaya worldwide (1). PRSV has been previously reported from Citrullus vulgaris and Cucumis melo from Iran as Watermelon mosaic virus 1 (2), but to our knowledge, this is the first report of occurrence of PRSV on papaya in Iran. References: (1) D. E. Purcifull et al. Papaya ringspot virus. No. 292. CMI/AAB, Surrey, England, 1984. (2) F. Ebrahim-Nesbat. Phytopathol. Z. 79:352, 1974.

First Report of Groundnut bud necrosis virus in Iran.

During the summer of 2001, mosaic, mottle, ring mosaic, stunting, and bud necrosis were observed in peanut fields (Arachis hypogaea cv. Gilan) in the Golestan Province of Iran. Mechanical inoculation of these samples caused necrotic local lesions on Vigna unguiculata cv. Mashad, necrosis on Nicotiana benthamiana and N. rustica, and mosaic followed by bud necrosis on Arachis hypogaea cv. NC2. Using triple-antibody sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (TAS-ELISA) and polyclonal (As) combined with monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) produced by DSMZ (Braunschweig, Germany), the samples were tested for presence of impatiens necrotic spot virus (INSV) (As-0115, MAb-0117-5E4), tomato spotted wilt virus (TSWV) (As-0105, MAb-0116-2B6, MAb-0106-4F2), and groundnut bud necrosis virus (GBNV) (As-0118, MAb-0226-1B4). The samples also were checked by TSWV polyclonal antibody (As-0526, As-0580, DSMZ). ELISA results showed leaf samples and inoculated indicator plants reacted positively to GBNV antibodies. Also a weak reaction was observed with TSWV-polyclonal antibody. However no reaction was detected using the INSV and TSWV-MAbs. GBNV is a member of the Tospovirus genus and has serological relationship with TSWV (1). To our knowledge, this is the first report of GBNV occurrence in Iran. Reference: (1) C. Heinze et al. Phytopathology 85:683-690, 1995.

Occurrence of Impatiens necrotic spot virus in Ornamentals in Mahallat and Tehran Provinces in Iran.

Impatiens necrotic spot virus (INSV) (genus Tospovirus, family Bunyaviridae) has been detected in commercial nurseries and field-grown ornamentals in Mahallat (Markazi) and Tehran provinces of Iran. INSV on ornamentals was first reported in 1990 (2). Ornamental plants with small necrotic spots, leaf yellowing, ring spots, necrotic vein clearing, wilting, and dwarf symptoms were collected. For mechanical inoculation on selected host species, leaf samples were triturated in chilled 0.01 phosphate buffer, pH 7.2, containing 0.02% sodium sulfite. Cowpea (cv. Mashad local), Chenopodium amaranticolor, Datura mete, Nicotiana rustica, N. tabacum (cv. White Burly), and Lycopersicon sp. produced local necrotic symptoms 5 days postinoculation. N. rustica, N. tabacum cv. White Burley, and D. metel also developed systemic mosaic symptoms that were followed by total wilting and death of the plant. The severity of the disease was higher in warm weather (July and August in greenhouses). Thrips tabaci and Frankliniella intonsa were often present at the site of INSV infection. Triple-antibody sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (TAS-ELISA) was applied using a commerical polyclonal antibody kit (As-0115) in combination with monoclonal antibody 5E4 (As-0117) prepared against nucleoprotein of INSV isolate Pv-0280 (antibody kits and positive control were a gift from DSMZ, Braunschweig, Germany). Samples were tested for the presence of TSWV and INSV. The ornamental species found infected with INSV were Rosa sp., Gazania sp., Chrysanthemum sp., Leucanthemum sp., Matricaria camomila, Pelargonium roseum, Salvia sp., and Dianthus caryophyllus, which were collected from the Mahallat area; and Gazania sp. and Bougainvillea spectabilis collected from the Tehran Province. ELISA values of field-infected samples (OD405, read after 1h) diluted at 1:10 (wt/vol) were 0.317 (minimum) and 0.914 (maximum), and 0.312 for the positive control. None of the samples reacted in TAS-ELISA with Tomato spotted wilt virus (TSWV) (antibody kits, As-0105, As-0106, and As-01106, gift from DSMZ). A few samples of Chrysanthemum sp. and Leucanthemum sp. (collected from the Mahallat area) reacted in TAS-ELISA with TSWV, indicating they were doubly infected with TSWV and INSV. Within the genus Tospovirus the TSWV peanut isolate has been reported from Iran (1). To our knowledge, this is the first report of the occurrence of INSV on ornamentals in Iran. References: (1) A. R. Golnaraghi et al. Plant Dis. 85:1286, 2001 (2) M. D. Law and J. W. Moyer. J. Gen.Virol.71:933, 1990.

First Report of Beet soil-borne virus on Sugar Beet in Iran.

Sugar beet is a main field crop in Iran and is cultivated in 186,000 ha. During the summer of 2001, sugar beet (Beta vulgaris) plants with pale, often upright, narrow, and rolled leaves were collected from the six main beet cultivation provinces of Iran (Fars, Ghazvin, Kermanshah, Khorasan, Semnan, and Isfahan). Roots of symptomatic plants were small, often with constriction, and exhibited warty outgrowth, proliferation of fibrous roots, and vascular necrosis. Beet soil-borne virus (BSBV) and Beet necrotic yellow vein (BNYVV, genus Benyvirus) were detected in sugar beet root samples by tissue-blot immunoassay (TBIA) using BSBV- and BNYVV-specific monoclonal antibodies (As-0576.1 and As-0799.1/CG6-F4, respectively; DSMZ Plant Virus Collection, Germany). Root extracts of sugar beet plants infected with BSBV, were infective by mechanical inoculation to Chenopodium quinoa causing necrotic ring spots. BSBV was detected in inoculated plants by TBIA. Laboratory tests using TBIA on 2,387 randomly collected samples showed that BSBV was present in 406 plants (17%) and BNYVV was present in 1,347 plants (56.43%). BSBV resembles BNYVV, the causal agent of sugar beet rhizomania, morphologically and in its transmission by Polymyxa betae (1). BNYVV has been reported previously from Iran (2). To our knowledge, this is the first report of BSBV occurring on sugar beet in Iran. References: (1) M. Ivanovic and I. Macfarlane. Annu. Rep. Rothamsted Exp. Stn. Page 190, 1982. (2) K. Izadpanah et al. Iran. J. Plant Pathol. 32:155, 1996.

First Report of a Tospovirus Infection of Peanuts in Iran.

During the summer of 2000, severe stunting, mosaic, bud necrosis, and chlorosis symptoms were observed on peanut (Arachis hypogaea cv. Gilan) plants growing in fields in the Golestan Province of Iran. Leaf extracts of peanut plants were infective (mechanical inoculation) causing necrotic local lesions on Chenopodium quinoa, C. amaranticolor, Gomphrena globosa, Phaseolus vulgaris cv. Talash, Vicia faba, and Vigna unguiculata cv. Mashad; systemic chlorotic spots were followed by systemic necrosis in Datura stramonium, D. metel, and Nicotiana rustica; chlorotic and necrotic spots were followed by top necrosis in Glycine max. About 2 weeks after inoculation, the chlorosis followed by stunting and bud necrosis observed in the field were reproduced in A. hypogaea cv. Gilan. Tomato spotted wilt virus (TSWV) was detected in the original peanut plants and in plant species that developed symptoms after inoculation with extracts from peanut plants, when analyzed by double-antibody sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay using TSWV-specific antisera (polyclonal antibody As-0526 and As-0580, DSMZ, Braunschweig, Germany). TSWV is one of the most important viruses in the world (2) and has been reported on potato (3) and tomato (1) in Iran. To our knowledge, this is the first report of TSWV infection of peanut in Iran. References: (1) K. Bananej et al. Iran. J. Plant Pathol. 34:30, 1998. (2) R. A. Mumford et al. Ann. Appl. Biol. 128:159, 1996. (3) R. Pourrahim et al. Plant Dis. 85:442, 2001.

First Report of Tomato spotted wilt virus on Soybean in Iran.

During the summers of 1999 and 2000, 3,110 soybean (Glycine max) leaf samples were randomly collected from soybean fields in the Ardebil, Goletan, Khuzestan, Lorestan, and Mazandaran provinces of Iran. Tomato spotted wilt virus (TSWV) was detected in leaf samples by TSWV-specific polyclonal antibody (As-0526 and As-0580, DSMZ, Braunschweig, Germany) in double-antibody sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (DAS-ELISA). Mechanical inoculation of 26 plant species (10 plants per species) and cultivars with extracts of positive leaf samples produced necrotic local lesions in Beta vulgaris, Chenopodium quinoa, C. amaranticolor, Gomphrena globosa, Phaseolus vulgaris cv. Talash, Vicia faba, and Vigna unguiculata cv. Mashad; produced systemic chlorosis followed by necrosis in Datura stramonium, D. metel, Nicotiana rustica, N. tabacum cv. Samsun, N. glutinosa, N. bentamiana, and Glycine max cv. Hill; and produced chlorosis, stunting, and bud necrosis in Arachis hypogaea (peanut). Plants developing these symptoms following mechanical inoculation with extracts from original soybean leaves were positive in ELISA for TSWV. ELISA results indicate that the overall incidence of TSWV on soybean in the five provinces was 5.4%. TSWV has been reported in potato (2) and tomato (1) from Iran, but to our knowledge, this is the first report of the occurrence of TSWV on soybean in Iran. References: (1) K. Bananej et al. Iran. J. Plant Pathol. 34:30, 1998. (2) R. Pourrahim et al. Plant Dis. 85:442, 2001.

First Report of Tomato Spotted Wilt Virus on Potatoes in Iran.

Severe leaf and stem necrosis before flowering was observed in potato (Solanum tuberosum) fields of Firouzkoh Province, Iran, during the summer of 1998. Infected plants died before the end of the growing season. Necrosis was more severe in cv. Agria than in cvs. Ajaxs and Arinda. A high population of Thrips tabaci was observed in August and September. Tomato spotted wilt virus (TSWV) (1) was detected in affected potatoes by using specific TSWV-IgG (from Bioreba) in double-antibody sandwich enzyme linked immunosorbent assay and by indicator plant reactions. Mechanical inoculation of indicator plants with leaf extracts of symptomatic potatoes produce necrotic local lesions in Chenopodium quinoa, C. amaranticolor, Gomphrena globosa, Vicia faba, Vigna sinensis, Phaseolus aureus var. Gohar, P. vulgaris, and Petunia hybrida. The virus caused systemic necrosis in Capsicum frutescens, Datura stramonium, D. metel, Nicotiana glutinosa, N. rustica, and Trapaeolum majus, preceded by systemic chlorotic spots. TSWV was reported from ornamental crops in Tehran and Absard areas near to Firouzkoh province (2), but this is the first report of TSWV occurrence on potatoes in Iran. References: (1) T. S. Ie. Descriptions of Plant Viruses. No. 39, 1970. (2) A. A. Moeini, et al. Iran. J. Plant Pathol. (In press.).