Characterization of melon (CMV-K), tomato (CMV-D), pepper (CMV-B) isolates of cucumber mosaic virus (CMV) by biological, serological, molecular methods and effect of satellite-RNAs on virus

Cucumber Mosaic Virus (CMV) is a member of the genus Cucumovirus inBromoviridae family and has many different strains in the subgroup IA, IB and II.CMV may infect over 1000 plant species in 85 plant families and has a role as helpervirus for satellite-RNA.The research was undertaken to identify and classify CMV isolates in threesubgroups and determine molecular weight, and effects of satellit-RNA on virusinfectivity on melon, tomato and pepper in Adana, Mersin, Hatay and Şanlıurfacities.The collected melon, tomato and pepper samples during the survey of 2003-2006 were tested by ELISA separately and found to be infected with CMV. Laterthese samples were inoculated to indicator plants as well as melon, tomato, pepper.The virions of different CMV isolates were purified from the infected plants andspeed of virions was detected by electrophoresis. Some regions on RNA-1, RNA-2,coat protein and 2a protein genes of different isolates were amplified by RT-PCR.The PCR product fragments were digested by restriction enzymes MluI, Eco RI,Hind III, Bam HI and MspI in RFLP researches and bands observed on agarose gel.The results of research indicated that CMV-K, CMV-D and CMV-B isolatesare belong to subgroup IA. Three of them support satellite-RNA 700bp molecularweight, CMV-K is a mild strain, the reason of symptom expression is the satellite-RNA on CMV-K and this isolates can be used as control agent of cross-protection.Key words: CMV, RT-PCR, RFLP, Subgroup, Satellite-RNA.II