Phylogenetic analysis of 5'-UTR and P1 protein of Indian common strain of potato virus Y reveals its possible introduction in India.

The 5' untranslated region (UTR) and P1 region of the Indian strain of potato virus Y ordinary strain (PVYO) was cloned and sequenced for the first time. Database searches and multiple sequence alignment showed the highest sequence similarity with the PVYO strains of European origin. Based on the phylogenetic analysis and multiple sequence alignment, the possible evolution of PVYN from PVYO is predicted. PVYO strains from China and India were perhaps introduced into these countries from a similar geographical location. All major PVY strains available in the database can be classified into two major subgroups of North American and European origin. The Chinese and Indian PVYO strains fall within the European union subgroup suggesting a long association since potato was introduced from Europe into these countries by two separate independent events. The possible function of P1 protein in plant virus replication is suggested due to in-silico prediction of nuclear localization signal (NLS) and other phosphorylation regulatory domains at the vicinity of the NLS.