CHARACTERIZATION OF BEET NECROTIC YELLOW VEIN VIRUS INFECTING SUGAR BEET IN LITHUANIA

Beet necrotic yellow vein virus (BNYVV) was shown to occur in sugar beets in three of six regions surveyed in Lithuania. Characterizing the coat protein (CP) and p25 genes by RT-PCR and sequencing showed the presence of A and B types of BNYVV isolates. The p25 protein of Lithuanian BNYVV isolates contained a distinct amino acid tetrad (residues 67-70) with AYHR associated with a B type isolate and AHHG with two A type isolates. These sequence features were consistent with phylogenetic grouping of isolates based on CP and p25 gene sequences. This is the first characterization of BNYVV isolates in Lithuania.