Study on infection of olive trees to cucumber mosaic (CMV) virus in Tarom region using serological and molecular techniques

Cucumber mosaic virus, the type member of the genus Comovirus (family Bromoviridae), is one of the most important viruses causing damage to cucurbit crops worldwide. During 2008-2009, a survey was carried out in major olive growing areas of Zanjan province. About 342 samples showing symptoms of viral infections (mosaic, yellowing, leaf deformation) were collected. All samples were subjected to serological assay using double antibody sandwich-ELISA (DAS-ELISA). Four isolates were selected from different fields to determine the biological properties of the virus. The indicator plants Chenopodium quinoa, C. amaranticolor, Nicotiana rustica and N. glutinosa were inoculated by sap inoculation. The virus produced systemic mosaic on N. glutinosa and N. rustica and necrotic local lesions on C. quinoa and on C. amaranticolor. The specific primer pair of CMV coat protein region was used in immunocapture reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (IC-RT-PCR), resulting amplification of a fragment with 700 bp length.The results demonstrated that CMV occurs in olive orchards in the region with symptoms varied from mild mosaic to leaf and fruits deformation. Cucurbit species growing in vicinity of olive trees in Tarom region may provide a unique chance for transmitting of CMV from its original host plants to olive trees. This is the first report of occurrence of CMV on olive or chards in Iran.