Distribution of Arabis Mosaic Virus (ArMV) on Grapevines and Roses in Western and Eastern Azarbaijan Provinces

Arabis mosaic virus (ArMV) belongs to the plant virus genus Nepovirus in the family Secoviridae. ArMV is transmitted by several species of the nematode vector in genus Xiphinema, and has a very wide natural host range in crop plants and ornamentals.  The objective of this study was to determine the distribution of ArMV in the vineyards and rose plantations in Western and Eastern Azarbaijan provinces of Iran. To achieve this aim, a total number of 1043 samples, including 251 rose and 792 grapevine leaves, were collected randomly from the gardens in several districts of Western and Eastern Azarbaijan provinces during the years 2008 to 2009. Using Dot-immunobinding assay and Double-antibody sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (DAS-ELISA), all samples were tested for the presence ofArMV. Results showed that ArMV was distributed through the rose plantations and vineyards of East Azarbaijan with the relative incidence rate of 30.3% and 46.6%, respectively, and 30.2% and 42% in rose and grapevine of West Azarbaijan province, respectively. Using specific primers for the coat protein gene of ArMV, extracted RNA samples were tested for the presence of ArMV by RT-PCR method. DNA fragments of 440bp and 519bp were amplified from the serological positive ArMV samples. To our knowledge, this appears to be the first precise study on the ArMV distribution through the different rose plantations and vineyards in several districts of West and East Azarbaijan provinces of Iran.