First report of High Plains wheat mosaic virus in Iran

High Plains wheat mosaic virus (HPWMoV, genus Emaravirus) has an octopartite, negative-sense RNA genome, each segment encoding a single open reading frame. The is transmitted by the curl mite (Aceria tosichella) (Tatineni et al., 2014). HPWMoV been reported from Argentina, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, Ukraine and USA (Abdullahi 2020; Snihur 2020). Mixed infections of Wheat streak (WSMV, Tritimovirus) often occur in field lead to severe symptoms (Byamukama 2016). In 2021 2022, 85 leaf samples were collected different gramineous plants with chlorotic (Figure 1) Isfahan Chaharmahal-o-Bakhtiari provinces, central Iran. Total was extracted using CTAB method RT-PCR performed specific primers HPV-F1 HPV-R1 targeting part nucleocapsid protein gene (Lebas 2005), WSMV-specific WSMVF WSMVR amplifying coat (Mar 2013). expected fragments (339 948 bp, respectively) amplified, Sanger-sequenced directly confirmed as WSMV, respectively, nucleotide sequence comparisons. results revealed or mixed infection WSMV (Triticum aestivum), barley (Hordeum vulgare), corn (Zea mays), oat (Avena sativa), millet (Panicum miliaceum) Johnsongrass (Sorghum halepense). Eighty percent infected at least one virus. determined 41, 37 22% samples, respectively. Sequence analysis Iranian isolate (GenBank Accession No. OQ214884) showed highest identity (97%) Ohio (KT988872.1) Kansas (KT988863.1), lowest (87%) (KT970501.1). However, (OQ214885) had 92% (KT988882.1). transmission test, nymphs reared on allowed feed HPWMoV-infected for 24 hours acquisition access feeding. then transferred thirty seedlings two-leaf stage, twenty per plant, All test four six days post inoculation. Infection described above. To best our knowledge this first report widely distributed most wheat-producing regions Iran (Masumi 2006). suggest that more common than parts probably other too should be considered new agent epidemiology mite-borne viruses infecting cereals authors acknowledge financial support University Technology.