First Report of Groundnut bud necrosis virus in Iran.

During the summer of 2001, mosaic, mottle, ring mosaic, stunting, and bud necrosis were observed in peanut fields (Arachis hypogaea cv. Gilan) in the Golestan Province of Iran. Mechanical inoculation of these samples caused necrotic local lesions on Vigna unguiculata cv. Mashad, necrosis on Nicotiana benthamiana and N. rustica, and mosaic followed by bud necrosis on Arachis hypogaea cv. NC2. Using triple-antibody sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (TAS-ELISA) and polyclonal (As) combined with monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) produced by DSMZ (Braunschweig, Germany), the samples were tested for presence of impatiens necrotic spot virus (INSV) (As-0115, MAb-0117-5E4), tomato spotted wilt virus (TSWV) (As-0105, MAb-0116-2B6, MAb-0106-4F2), and groundnut bud necrosis virus (GBNV) (As-0118, MAb-0226-1B4). The samples also were checked by TSWV polyclonal antibody (As-0526, As-0580, DSMZ). ELISA results showed leaf samples and inoculated indicator plants reacted positively to GBNV antibodies. Also a weak reaction was observed with TSWV-polyclonal antibody. However no reaction was detected using the INSV and TSWV-MAbs. GBNV is a member of the Tospovirus genus and has serological relationship with TSWV (1). To our knowledge, this is the first report of GBNV occurrence in Iran. Reference: (1) C. Heinze et al. Phytopathology 85:683-690, 1995.