Almond virome analysis via high-throughput sequencing in Turkiye

Abstract In this study, we report the occurrence and molecular characteristics of apricot pseudo-chlorotic leaf spot virus (ApCLSV), peach-associated luteovirus (PaLV), and plum pox virus (PPV) detected on an almond tree exhibiting virus-like symptoms via high-throughput sequencing (HTS). The complete genomes of PaLV and PPV and the partial genome of ApCLSV were Sanger sequenced, and their prevalence was determined through surveys carried out in several provinces of Turkiye. The almond isolate of PPV (KyAl) was found to belong to the PPV-T strain and originated from recombination events between a PPV-M strain and a PPV-D strain. It also lacks a DAG motif in its CP region, which is necessary to be transmitted by aphid vectors. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of PaLV infecting almond in Turkiye and the first report of ApCLSV infecting almond worldwide.