Partial Nucleotide Sequence of the Family Bunyaviridae Associated with a Mosaic-Diseased Fig. in North Egypt

Abstract

Four different patterns of chlorotic blotches, mosaic, yellowish mottling and deformation were observed and collected in four fig-growing areas of North Egypt from cv. Sultany farms. Fig mosaic virus like symptoms were successful purified through transmission an eriophyid mite, Aceria ficus Cotte to healthy potted rooted cuttings grown under glasshouse conditions. Young leaves appearing typical symptoms caused by FMV. Electron microscope observations of thin-sectioned tissues from symptomatic leaves showed Double Membrane Bodies (DMBs) characteristic for FMV particles compared with symptomless leaves. Viral particles belong to family of Bunyaviridae. The RT-PCR performed on total RNA extracted from leaf tissue infected with the studied virus confirmed the specificity of the primers of RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRp) gene for RNA-dependent RNA polymerase. The size of the PCR amplified fragment was 302 bp. The sequence and phylogenetic analysis indicated that the Egyptian FMV isolate was closely related to other FMV isolates, especially the Italian and Arkansas ones with 80%similarity. The genetic relationship between the RdRp gene for the Egyptian isolate of FMV with other FMV sequences on the Genbank was studied.