Abstract

Status of Infection with Grapevine Fanleaf Virus in Vineyards of Iran and Molecular Characteristics of the Isolates

Author(s): Nemat Sokhandan Bashir, Shaheen Nourinejhad-Zarghani and Mohammad Hajizadeh

Grapevine fan leaf virus (GFLV) is widespread in vineyards around the world. Investigations on GFLV from vineyards in several provinces of Iran have provided enormous information on the virus detection, distribution, recombination and even eradication in the recent decade. Primarily double antibody sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (DASELISA) has been applied to survey for GFLV in Iran. Later on, an initial screening by ELISA was followed by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). In the initial PCR assays, previously designed primers were exploited, but when sequence data of local isolates were became available newly- designed primers were used that increased efficiency of the assay. As a result, sequences of movement protein (MP), coat protein (CP) and/ or even the hypothetical protein (HP) are now known for many GFLV isolates from the northwest, northeast, southwest and central part of the country as well as full-length sequence of GFLV RNA2 in four isolates. By analyses of such sequences, it has been revealed that GFLV isolates from Iran are distinct from the isolates of other parts of the world. Green grafting method on Gerey-Dash variety was also developed for screening the grafts in large scale. However, there are still gaps in our knowledge on the virus from Iran that requires further research. The ultimate goal would be control of the virus via establishing a sanitation scheme as well as exploitation of novel gene silencing strategies in order to combat the virus, save precious local cultivars and increase their productivity. This is the first comprehensive review on status of infections with GFLV in Iran.