Phylogenetic relationship and genetic diversity of Turkish peanut viruses

Viral diseases of peanuts (Arachis hypogaea) have never been reported in Turkey. Analyzing genetic diversity using phylogenetic analysis is important to understanding disease complexes.

Samples were taken from 63 plants showing virus-like symptoms from two major cultivation regions in Turkey. These samples were tested against five different virus genera and one virus species by PCR/RT-PCR. After sequencing and subsequent RT-PCR tests using specific primers, viruses were identified at the species level. Complete protein-coding genome analyses, multiple sequence comparisons, and phylogenetic analyses of three isolates for each identified species with world isolates were performed. And, peanut mottle virus (PeMoV), peanut stripe virus (PStV), and turnip yellows virus (TuYV) infections were detected. All Turkish isolates showed high sequence homology and were phylogenetically similar to each other. Phylogenetic analyses with world isolates revealed that Turkish PeMoV and TuYV isolates were closely related to some other world isolates, while PStV isolates were in a separate phylogenetic group from other world isolates. The genetic distance values of the PeMoV, PStV, and TuYV isolates were determined to be 0.0159, 0.0325, and 0.0753, respectively.

PeMoV, PStV, and TuYV were reported for the first time in Turkey. Furthermore, the peanut was identified as a new host for TuYV for the first time. The first complete protein-coding genome sequences of Turkish isolates of the three viruses were also obtained.