First Report of Dasheen mosaic virus Infecting Lotus ( Nelumbo nucifera ) in China

Nelumbo nucifera (lotus) is a perennial aquatic plant belonging to the family Nelumbonaceae. In China, lotus is cultivated as vegetable, ornamental plant, or herbal medicine with a total land area of approximately 1 x 10[sup 6] ha. Viral disease in lotus is reportedly caused by Cucumber mosaic virus (CMV), which results in stunted growth and malformation in infected plants. Dasheen mosaic virus (DsMV), which belongs to the genus Potyvirus in the family Potyviridae, mainly attacks various cultivated aroids and can be transmitted by aphid species. This case provides the first report of DsMV infection in lotus in China. To our knowledge, CMV was the only pathogen reported to cause viral disease in lotus. In this study, we identified DsMV as a new pathogen causing viral disease in lotus. Our results will be highly valuable for disease prevention and control in lotus cultivation.