Distribution and properties of geographically distinct isolates of sugar beet yellowing viruses

From a total of 261 yellow sugarbeet leaves collected from 10 countries representing three continents, the incidence and distribution of strains of Beet mild yellowing virus (BMYV), Beet chlorosis virus (BChV) and Beet yellows virus (BYV) were analysed using serological and molecular methods. BMYV was found in all countries except Greece, and more frequently in the northern and western areas of Europe, whereas BYV predominated in Turkey, Spain, Greece, the USA and Chile. BChV, originally found in the USA and the UK in 1989, was identified in France, Spain, the Netherlands and Chile. Nine sugar beet poleroviruses, plus a reference isolate of Turnip yellows virus (TuYV, syn. Beet western yellows virus), were further characterized and compared. Isolates obtained from sugar beet infected this species, but not oilseed rape or lettuce; all isolates except one infected Capsella bursa‐pastoris. The coat‐protein sequences of these isolates were highly similar, with the consensus sequence representing 89% of nucleotide residues. Within the coat‐protein gene, two regions were identified that could represent specific epitopes to which monoclonal antibody BYDV‐PAV‐IL‐1 could bind; this antibody is used to distinguish beet poleroviruses in ELISA. Comparison of the sequences at the 5′ end showed that sequence homology existed only between isolates with the same host range. The first sequence data of polerovirus isolates from Chile are presented, showing that the coat protein and the 5′ end of their genomes are highly similar to those of BMYV isolates found in Europe. Chilean polerovirus isolates may have been imported from the northern hemisphere in sugar beet breeding material.