Molecular Analysis of the Global Population of Potato Virus S Redefines Its Phylogeny, and Has Crop Biosecurity Implications

In 2020, 264 samples were collected from potato fields in the Turkish provinces of Bolu, Afyon, Kayseri and Nigde. RT-PCR tests, with primers which amplified its coat protein (CP), detected potato virus S (PVS) in 35 samples. Complete CP sequences were obtained from 14 samples. Phylogenetic analysis using non-recombinant sequences of (i) the 14 CP's, another 8 from Tokat province and 73 others from GenBank; and (ii) 130 complete ORF, RdRp and TGB sequences from GenBank, found that they fitted within phylogroups, PVSI, PVSII or PVSIII. All Turkish CP sequences were in PVSI, clustering within five subclades. Subclades 1 and 4 were in three to four provinces, whereas 2, 3 and 5 were in one province each. All four genome regions were under strong negative selection constraints (? = 0.0603-0.1825). Considerable genetic variation existed amongst PVSI and PVSII isolates. Three neutrality test methods showed PVSIII remained balanced whilst PVSI and PVSII underwent population expansion. The high fixation index values assigned to all PVSI, PVSII and PVSIII comparisons supported subdivision into three phylogroups. As it spreads more readily by aphid and contact transmission, and may elicit more severe symptoms in potato, PVSII spread constitutes a biosecurity threat for countries still free from it.

Automated summary

In 2020, 264 potato field samples were collected from Bolu, Afyon, Kayseri, and Nigde provinces in Turkey. Potato virus S (PVS) was detected in 35 samples using RT-PCR tests. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that the PVS isolates in Turkey belonged to three phylogroups (PVSI, PVSII, and PVSIII), with considerable genetic variation within PVSI and PVSII. PVSII, which spreads easily and causes more severe symptoms, poses a biosecurity threat to countries without it.