Isolation and molecular characterization of a Chilean isolate of Zucchini yellow mosaic virus

Zucchini yellow mosaic virus (ZYMV) was described in 1981 affecting squash, melon, and other cultivated cucurbits with severe stunting and yellowing s ymptoms. It was reported to be present in most countries where cucurbits ar e grown, and in Chile since 1995, from surveys using enzyme-linked immunoso rbent assay (ELISA) but without further characterization. A potyvirus was i solated from ELISA-positive symptomatic plants. The results indicate that t his virus is ZYMV based on symptoms on herbaceous indicators, immunospecifi c electron microscopy of the purified particle, and sequencing of 395 bases of the 3' end of the coat protein gene. The virus was detected in melon, w atermelon, and squash plants. In agreement with previous descriptions for Z YMV, the Chilean isolate is a flexuous filamentous particle 740 nm long wit h one main protein of approximately 36 kDa. Nucleotide sequence comparisons of the 3' portion of the coat protein gene revealed a high similarity to t he Connecticut and California strains.