First report of <i>Ornithogalum mosaic virus</i> infecting iris in Iran

Iris is an important ornamental and medicinal plant, grown commercially for floriculture domestically aesthetic value. Ornithogalum mosaic virus (OrMV, Potyviridae) has a broad host range infecting plants of the genera Diuris, Gladiolus, (Gao et al., 2018). During April 2020, symptoms mosaics chlorotic spots on leaves were observed in versicolor growing Mashhad city, northeast Iran (Fig. 1). Young from six diseased sampled total RNA was extracted (50 mg tissue per sample) using SV Total Isolation Kit (Promega, USA) following manufacturer's instructions. RT-PCR performed primer pair OrMVCPF (5′-AAGCAGAATCTATGGATGCAGG-3′) OrMVCPR (5′-CACATATTAACACCAAGTAGTG-3′) designed to amplify 763 bp fragment coat protein OrMV genome (encompassing complete protein). RT done 2 μl antisense (10 pmol), 3 RNA, 1 MMuLV (100 U/μl) reverse transcriptase 20 volume. PCR 25 reaction mixtures containing 12.5 Taq DNA Polymerase Master Mix RED (Ampliqon, Denmark), each forward pmol) template cDNA. The thermal conditions 95°C five minutes; followed by 35 cycles 94°C 30 s, 58°C 72°C 60 final extension at seven minutes. products analysed agarose gel electrophoresis four gave bands expected size (763 bp). Amplified product obtained one sample bi-directionally sequenced (Macrogen Inc., South Korea), resulting consensus sequence deposited GenBank (Accession No. OQ572723). BLAST analysis revealed highest identity (93%) with polyprotein gene Australian isolate xiphium (JN127345). Three potyviruses, mild virus, severe Narcissus latent (Moradi 2022; Naseri 2022) have been detected previously Iranian iris fields. These viruses affect adversely production cause wide symptoms, reducing both value crop. Tests not other it known whether caused or combination viruses. To our knowledge this first report may further impact country. This work supported Ferdowsi University Mashhad, Grant/Award Number: 55345.