CHARACTERIZATION OF A STRAIN OF CLOVER YELLOW VEIN POTYVIRUS INFECTING BORAGE (BORAGO-OFFICINALIS L) IN SPAIN

A disease of borage (Borago officinalis) in Spain, characterized by se vere mosaic and deformation of the leaves, was shown to be caused by a potyvirus. The borage-infecting potyvirus was characterized biologica lly by the symptoms induced in 23 indicator species and was shown to b e transmitted experimentally by the aphid Myzus persicae in a non-pers istent manner. In order to classify the borage-infecting potyvirus we have cloned and sequenced the entire coat protein gene and 3' non-codi ng region of the viral RNA. By comparing this nucleotide sequence with those of other members of the Potyviridae, we can identify the Spanis h borage-infecting potyvirus as an isolate of clover yellow vein virus (CYVV), a virus so far only known to cause important diseases in fora ge legumes. This is the first record of CYVV in Spain and of CYVV infe cting a natural host of the Boraginaceae.