Molecular characterization of a new potyvirus infecting sunflower.

We have sequenced 1873 nucleotides from the 3'-end region of a sunflower potyvirus genome including the 3'-NIb protein coding region (813 nucleotides), the entire coat protein coding region (807 nucleotides) and 3'-NCR (253 nucleotides), excluding the poly (A) tail. Amino acids identity of the whole CP between the sunflower virus and Potyvirus members ranged from 49.5% (SCMV) to 81.5% (PVY-NsNr), and the core ranged from 55% (TVMV) to 87% (PVY-NsNr; PepMoV). The 3'-NCR nucleotides showed 38.7% homology to PeSMV and 61% to PepMoV-C. The sequence of 3' end region and analysis of phylogenetic relationships suggest this sunflower virus could belong to PVY subgroup and the name of "sunflower chlorotic mottle virus" (SuCMoV) is proposed. This is the first report on the partial nucleotide sequence of a potyvirus infecting sunflower.