Department of Biology and Biotechnology, Faculty of Science, An-Najah National University, Nablus, Palestine
Current Affiliation:
Department of Biology and Biotechnology, Faculty of Science, An-Najah National University, Nablus, Palestine
Michela Chiumenti
Istituto per la Protezione Sostenibile delle Piante del CNR, UOS Bari, Via Amendola 165/A, 70126 Bari, Italy
A. Minafra
Istituto per la Protezione Sostenibile delle Piante del CNR, UOS Bari, Via Amendola 165/A, 70126 Bari, Italy
G.P. Martelli
Istituto per la Protezione Sostenibile delle Piante del CNR, UOS Bari, Via Amendola 165/A, 70126 Bari, Italy
Preferred Abstract (Original):
A virus disease of fig (Ficus carica) known as fig mosaic (FM) is
widely spread in Palestine, where its severity varies according to the
cultivar and the growing area. At least 10 viruses and three viroids
have been detected so far in fig trees. This study reports the results
of a preliminary survey carried out in Palestine to secure information
on the viruses associated with mosaic-infected figs. Samples were
collected from scattered trees, fig orchards and nurseries of different
areas of central Palestine, where figs are traditionally grown, and
tested for the presence of Fig mosaic virus (FMV), Fig latent virus 1
(FLV-1), Fig badnavirus-1 (FBV-1), Fig leaf mottle-associated virus 1
(FLMaV-1) and 2 (FLMaV-2), and Fig cryptic virus (FCV) in addition to
Apple dimple fruit viroid (ADFVd). The following viruses. FMV, FBV-1,
FLV-1 and FLMaV- 2, were detected by RT-PCR. FBV-1 was the most
widespread followed by FMV. The genetic diversity of FMV was assessed by
sequencing a fragment from the viral p4 protein, revealing a low
divergence from the homologous sequences from GenBank.