MOLECULAR CHARACTERIZATION OF POTATO VIRUS Y INDUCING POTATO TUBER NECROTIC RINGSPOT DISEASE IN SERBIA

The Potato virus Y (PVY) is the most important limiting factor for potato seed production in Serbia. Currently, PVY is a major concern for the potato seed growers. Initially, serological (ELISA) tests were carried out on 100 potato seed tubers from each of the seven potato cv. during 2013. The infection rates with the PVYN was between 5 and 36%. A complete genome sequencing of the most common Serbian isolate of PVY (3D), followed by molecular characterization and phylogenetic analysis has been performed to show what group it belongs to. Our isolate's complete genome sequence (KJ946936) showed that the Serbian PVY isolate (3D) is 99.7% identical at nt level, with other tuber necrosis strain group (PVYNTN) from Europe. Phylogenetic analysis revealed three consistent lineages of isolates, showing that our isolate was clustered with the isolates from Europe and North America in the PVYN lineage which induces potato tuber necrotic ringspot disease (PTNRD). The Serbian isolate of PVYNTN together with the isolates from Europe was clustered in the branch of European sublineage, with a high bootstrap support and no genetic diversity. This is the first study in Serbia demonstrating phylogenetic distinction between our isolate and other isolates of PVY.