Characterization of a potyvirus from eggplant ( <i>Solanum melongena</i> ) as a strain of potato virus Y by N‐terminal serology and sequence relationships

Abstract

A potyvirus (eggplant mottle virus, EMoV) causing mosaic mottling in eggplant ( Solanum melongena ) was characterized on the basis of biological, serological and partial nucleotide sequence properties. EMoV infected Chenopodium amaranticolor and members of the Solanaceae. Polyclonal antiserum against EMoV showed antigenic relationship with henbane mosaic potyvirus (HMV) and potato Y potyvirus (PVY). Virus‐specific antibodies directed to the N‐terminal region of EMoV cross‐reacted only with PVY. Determination and comparison of nucleotide sequence of the coat protein (CP) and the 3′‐untranslated region (UTR) of EMoV with other potyviruses showed that the level of homology was highest with PVY isolates. Comparative sequence analyses of the CP amino acid and 3′‐UTR sequences with distinct PVY isolates placed EMoV within the PVY O subgroup.