Author(s)

Anna A. Slavokhotova^*, Ekaterina A. Istomina, Emma N. Andreeva, Tatyana V. Korostyleva, Vitalij A. Pukhalskij, Alexander N. Shijan, Tatyana I. Odintsova

Vavilov Institute of General Genetics, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia.

Cucumber green mottle mosaic virus (CGMMV), a member of the Tobamovirus genus, causes a severe disease of cucurbits. In the Moscow region of Russian Federation, the incidence of infection on cucumber plants in greenhouses is high; however, the virus is poorly studied. In this work, the full-length genomes of two pathogenic MC-1 and MC-2 strains of CGMMV isolated from cucumber plants grown in greenhouses in the Moscow region and the attenuated VIROG-43M strain were sequenced. Comparison of VIROG-43M nucleotide sequence with those of the pathogenic strains revealed three missense mutations. Their role in attenuation is discussed. For the first time, in a number of trials conducted under laboratory conditions and in commercial greenhouses, the efficiency of the attenuated VIROG-43M strain as a biocontrol agent for cucumber plant protection resulting in significant yield gain was demonstrated. Phylogenetic analysis with 83 full-length CGMMV coat protein genes isolated in 16 different countries showed that Russian strains are related to isolates from Spain, Greece, USA and Israel.

Cucumber Green Mottle Mosaic Virus, Tobamovirus, Attenuated Virus Strain, Cross-Protection, Biological Control

Slavokhotova, A. , A. Istomina, E. , Andreeva, E. , Korostyleva, T. , Pukhalskij, V. , N. Shijan, A. and Odintsova, T. (2016) An Attenuated Strain of Cucumber Green Mottle Mosaic Virus as a Biological Control Agent against Pathogenic Viral Strains. American Journal of Plant Sciences, 7, 724-732. doi: 10.4236/ajps.2016.75066.