Molecular characterisation of Alfalfa mosaic virus isolates in potato from the Tokat province, Türkiye

The Alfalfa mosaic virus (AMV) was detected in potato fields in the Tokat province. The coat protein (CP) sequences of AMV isolates from the Tokat province were determined and compared with sequences of reference AMV isolates from GenBank. Total nucleic acid (TNA) was extracted from plants with positive results according to serological test results. Then, reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) was performed using primer pair specific to partial the coat protein region, and positive PCR products were sent for sequence analysis in both directions. Two Turkish AMV isolates (AMV-PN3-5 and AMV-PN3-6) had a 96-99% nt homology amongst themselves, according to nucleotides (nt) sequence analysis. Based on the phylogenetic tree obtained from 24 AMV isolates from GenBank for both sequences, the two Turkish AMV isolates were clustered in subgroup I containing Iranian, Canadian, Turkish, Korean, and Serbian isolates, at the nucleotide level. Sequence comparison showed that these two isolates of AMV shared 96% to 99.7% sequence similarity with the twenty-six reported isolates of AMV obtained from GenBank. This is the first report on the genetic variability of AMV isolates infecting potato crops in the Tokat province.