Nerine Latent Virus Diagnosed in Hippeastrum Bulbs in Korea

Abstract

Amaryllis (Hippeastrum hybridum) bulbs at the dormant stage were used to investigate contagious virus retention. A DNA fragment containing 612 bp was amplified by reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction with nerine latent virus (NeLV)-specific primers from amaryllis bulbs and characterized by nucleotide sequencing. Nucleotide sequences of the partial region of the NeLV coat protein gene were determined, and the sequences shared 93.9% to 98.5% identity with other NeLV isolates derived from various Amaryllidaceae species. In the phylogenetic analysis, amaryllis isolates from ‘Alfresco’ and ‘Red Lion’ cultivars used in this study were grouped with other NeLV isolates and distinctively separated from other carlavirus species. In this study, NeLV was found in amaryllis bulbs from the two cultivars. Additional key words: Amaryllidaceae, amaryllis, carlavirus, flower bulb, quarantine