NUCLEOTIDE-SEQUENCE OF BEET MILD YELLOWING VIRUS-RNA

The complete nucleotide sequence of the genomic RNA of beet mild yello wing virus, isolate 2ITB, is reported. The RNA consists of 5722 nucleo tides and contains six long open reading frames which conform to the a rrangement characteristic of Subgroup 2 luteoviruses. The three 3'-pro ximal open reading frames, which encode the viral coat protein, a puta tive movement protein and the Readthrough Domain, are highly homologou s to the corresponding genes of beet western yellows luteovirus while the three 5'-proximal open reading frames are more closely related to the corresponding genes of cucurbit aphid borne yellows luteovirus. Th e sequence data thus indicate that beet mild yellowing virus should be considered a distinct virus rather than a strain of beet western yell ows virus.