Serological analysis and coat protein sequence determination of potato virus Y (PVY) pepper pathotypes and differentiation from other PVY strains

The serological relationships of Potato Virus Y (PVY) isolates belonging to the pepper pathotypes 0, 1 and 1-2 were established by enzyme-linked immun osorbent assay (ELISA). PVY pepper pathotypes did not react with monoclonal antibodies which typically recognize non-pepper strains within the PVY gro up, leading to discrimination between these two groups of strains. No serol ogical differences were found between the three PVY pepper pathotypes. The coat protein (CP) nucleotide and predicted amino acid sequences of the thre e different PVY pepper pathotypes were determined. The highest sequence sim ilarity was found between pathotypes 0 and 1 (99.2%), while the lowest occu rred between these two and pathotype 1-2 (98.1%). PVY strains from potato a nd tobacco appeared more distantly related. Phenetic analysis of the CP ami no acid sequences showed that the PVY pepper pathotypes formed a tightly cl ustered group separate from other PVY strains.