WEEDS AND WILD PLANTS AS NATURAL HOSTS OF CUCUMBER MOSAIC VIRUS: A CASE STUDY FROM WESTERN SLOVAKIA

Cucumber mosaic virus (Bromoviridae) is a worldwide widespread pathogen affecting more than 1200 plant species. Although more attention is paid to CMV research on agricultural crops, vegetables or ornamental plants, this work was focused on the analysis of several weeds and wild plants as potential natural hosts of CMV. For this purpose, samples from two different agroecological locations were tested by DAS-ELISA using CMV-specific antibodies, revealing nine CMV-positive plant species. CMV isolates from greater burdock (Arctium lappa L.), rough hawksbeard (Crepis biennis L.), wood avens (Geum urbanum L.), prickly lettuce (Lactuca serriola L.), black medick (Medicago lupulina L.), bitter dock (Rumex obtusifolius L.), field sowthistle (Sonchus arvensis L.), white clover (Trifolium repens) and white violet (Viola alba Besser.) were further characterized by sequencing the complete CP gene, disclosing their affiliation to the CMV Group II. We have shown that weeds and wild plant species can be effective hosts for CMV and can serve as virus reservoirs from which the virus can be spread to cultivated crops.