First report of Plum pox virus on Tilia spp. in Turkey

The Tilia genus (linden, lime) comprises about 30 deciduous tree species native to North America, Europe, and Asia. They are often used along roads in parks because of their aesthetic value urban landscapes. During surveys 2017–2018 Istanbul, Turkey, typical viral disease symptoms such as foliar mosaics, mottling chlorotic ringspots, deformations were observed on spp. (Figs. 1-3). Forty-six leaf samples collected from diseased asymptomatic trees 43 different recreation fields Istanbul. All screened for Plum pox virus (PPV) by DAS-ELISA (PPV ELISA kit, Bioreba, Switzerland). Three had positive test results with mean absorbance values (A405) ranging 0.73 0.74 compared 0.21 the healthy control. To confirm presence PPV, total RNA was extracted using a Qiagen RNeasy Plant Mini kit subjected RT-PCR universal primers P1/P2 located at C-terminus PPV coat protein (CP) gene described Wetzel et al. (1991). A 243 bp product amplified three samples, confirming infection PPV. amplicon one sample cloned sequenced, partial sequence deposited GenBank (Accession No. MF616012). Analysis obtained revealed that it shares highest (100%) nucleotide identity isolate AnMrPl540 (MG686887.1) lowest (86%) Avang (KU359729.1) Russia. Phylogenetic analysis neighbour-joining method MEGA7 software (Kumar al., 2016) indicated Turkish clustered closely (Fig. 4). caused known Sharka, is particularly detrimental apricots, peaches, European Japanese plums can seriously reduce yield fruit quality. Losses susceptible cultivars may reach 100% some cases (Kegler & Hartmann, 1998; Németh, 1994). It has also been reported infect several ornamental wild Prunus natural experimental hosts (Damsteegt 2007). This first report sp. host world. Further molecular studies will be conducted obtain full genome understand its phylogenetic relationship other published sequences.