Abstract
An isolate of Cucumber mosaic virus (CMV) retrieved from tomato in India was characterized based on its transmission by sap inoculations, Western blot immuno-assay and sequence analysis of RNA3 and 2b genome. The RNA3 genome was of 2,220 nucleotides (nt) which contained two ORFs: movement protein of 852 nt translating 283 amino acids and coat protein of 657 nt translating 218 amino acids. The complete sequence of RNA3 geneome (Acc. EF153734) shared highest 98-99% identities with P1-1, Tfn, and Nt9 strains of CMV infecting tomato reported from abroad. The 333 nucleotides long RNA2b gene (Acc. EF710773) also showed highest 98% identities with P1-1 and 97% with Tfn and NT9 strains of CMV but only 83-84% identities with Indian strains of CMV. Therefore, the isolate under study was identified as a new isolate of CMV of subgroup IB based on highest sequence similarities and closer affinity to European or East Asian isolates of CMV.