Natural hosts and transmission of Sophora yellow stunt-associated virus

Sophora yellow stunt-associated virus (SYSaV) (Nanovirus, Nanoviridae) is a new nanovirus that recently identified in Iran with wide distribution. In the present study, the SYSaV infection of chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.), lentil (Lens culinaris Medikus), liquorice (Glycyrrhiza glabra L.), esfand (Peganum harmala L.) and milk vetch (Astragalus sp.) showing typical nanovirus symptoms including dwarfing and yellowing was tested by PCR and full-length sequencing of selected genome components. Results indicated that these samples are infected with SYSaV. In transmission experiments, the capability of cowpea aphid (Aphis craccivora) and pea aphid (Acyrthosiphon pisum) to transmit SYSaV to healthy plants was evaluated under greenhouse conditions. While Aphis craccivora transmitted the virus from infected to healthy sophora plants, Acyrthosiphon pisum collected on naturally infected sophora plants transmitted the virus to sophora, chickpea and cowpea seedlings. Based on the results of this study, beside the main host (sophora), SYSaV is able to infect two other medicinal plants. In addition, the host range of the virus is not limited to the wild species and at least two legume crops are infected with SYSaV.