Molecular and serological characterization of an Iranian isolate of Beet black scorch virus

An isolate of Beet black scorch virus (BBSV) was obtained from Iranian sugar beet roots. Its genome organization closely resembles that of the previously described Chinese and North American isolates, but the nucleotide sequences of the three isolates differ considerably. Most of the nucleotide exchanges, however, are silent, and the Iranian and the Chinese isolates were serologically indistinguishable. Beets infected by the Iranian BBSV did not show black scorch symptoms, but severe root beardedness. This might have been caused by BBSV or the simultaneously present beet necrotic yellow vein virus, or both together.