Identification and phylogenetic analysis of viruses infecting stone fruits and strawberry in Egypt.

Selected commercial and/or local vineyards and nurseries in 3 different governorates of Egypt (Alexandria, El Beheira and El Menofia), were surveyed for diagnostic symptoms of grapevine viruses. Grapevine leafroll associated viruses (GLRaV-1,GLRaV-2,GLRaV-3), Grapevine viruses A and B (GVA,GVB), Grapevine rupestris stem pitting virus (GRSPaV), Grapevine fanleaf virus (GFLV) and Grapevine fleck virus(GFKV) were tested for in red-fruited and white fruited Vitis vinefera cultivars from early April to late October,2010. Incidence of these viruses were assessed by both DAS-ELISA and RT-PCR in 60 different sample. While GVA was the most wide spread (30%), GLRaV-1, GVB, GFLV and GFKV were not detected during the survey. However, GVA, GLRaV-2, GLRaV-3 and GRSPaV were detected in the form of single infection or in mixed infections between 2 or up to 4 viruses. Phylogenetic analysis was performed to all Egyptian isolates GLRaV-1 (4), GLRaV-3 (7), GVA (3) and GRSPaV (6). Such analysis illustrates the evolutionary relationship between the reported Egyptian isolates and other previously reported isolates.