Coat protein gene sequence studies suggest that Cucumber mosaic virus infecting paprika (Capsicum annuum L.) in India belongs to subgroup IB

Abstract

Cucumber mosaic virus (CMV) causing mosaic, leaf distortion and stunting on paprika (Capsicum annuum L.) in India was detected by direct antigen-coated enyme linked immunosorbent assay (DAC-ELISA) and reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). The coat protein (CP) gene of the virus was amplified, cloned and sequenced. Sequenced region contained a single open reading frame of 657 nucleotides potentially coding for 218 amino acids. Amino acid and nucleotide sequence analyses of CMV CP with members of subgroup IA, IB and II revealed that CMV infecting paprika showed the greatest identity with members of subgroup IB. The identity of amino acid and nucleotide sequences ranged from 95% and 91 –92% with members of subgroup IA, 94 – 99% and 93 –97% with subgroup IB isolates and 78 –82% and 75 –76% with members of subgroup II. The results were also confirmed through phylogram based on multiple sequence alignments of coat protein gene. This is the first report on molecular characterization of CMV infecting paprika in India.