Identification of seed-borne faba bean viruses in Khuzestan province, Iran

Faba bean (Vicia faba L.) is one of the important legumes in most countries and an important source of protein for human diet and animal feed as well as nitrogen fixation. Viral disease symptoms including mosaic، leaf curl and deformation suspected of being due to viruses have been observed in faba bean fields in Khuzestan province for a long time. Evaluation of the seed borne nature of the disease showed that the agent (s) of the disease was/were seed-borne. Therefore، the objective of this study was to determine the causal agents of this disease in faba bean fields in Khuzestan province. Samples were collected and infections of Bean common mosaic virus، Bean common mosaic necrosis virus and Cucumber mosaic virus were confirmed by ELISA using 15 antibodies against different viruses. Reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) was performed using NIb2F/NIb3R and CMVF/CMVR primer pairs and the expected bands of 350 and 520 bp were amplified، respectively، confirming the serological assays. Results of the study showed that Khuzestan faba bean fields were infected at least by three seed-borne viruses including CMV، BCMV and BCMNV. This is the first report of BCMV and BCMNV infection in faba bean in Iran.