Partial Biological and Molecular Characterization of Cauliflower mosaic virus Isolates in Iran

The biological and molecular characteristics of nine Cauliflower mosaic virus (CaMV) isolates from infected cauliflower plants (Brassica oleracea var. botrytis), grown in different Iranian regions, were evaluated. Based on mechanical inoculation to a range of herbaceous indicators, the Iranian CaMV isolates were distinguished for their different capacity to infect cruciferous plants and Datura stramonium. Only a part of the isolates under study infected kohlrabi (B. oleracea var. gongylodes) and D. stramonium seedlings, whereas, in experimental trials, all of them were transmitted on healthy cauliflowers by green peach aphids (Myzus persicae). In PCR, 1.58 kb genomic fragments, corresponding to the CaMV ORF VI, were amplified. Their sequences showed close identities (96.1-96.7%) with that of D/H CaMV-Hungarian isolate. In phylogenetic analysis the isolates under study were clustered in a separate branch, together with the non-North American isolates group. The Iranian isolates were also well differentiated from other exotic CaMV isolates by restriction analysis using Hpy99I.