Autor: Luciani, Cecilia Elizabeth; Celli, Marcos Giovani; Brugo Carivali, María Florencia; Bongiorno, Vanina Aylén; Conci, Luis Rogelio; Fernandez, Franco Daniel; Perotto, Maria Cecilia

Fodder beet (Beta vulgaris subsp. vulgaris) is cultivated due its tolerance to low temperatures and poor soils as it improves the structure of forage production systems.

Viral diseases represent a significant threat to beet production. Beet mosaic virus (BtMV) is the only confirmed potyvirus infecting beets. Between 2023 and 2024, plants showing virus-like symptoms from Argentinian main production area were surveyed. Transmission electron microscopy revealed flexuous filamentous particles consistent with BtMV. Oxford Nanopore Technologies sequencing of one sample yielded the complete BtMV genome (B12AR; 9451 nt, excluding the poly (A) tail), sharing 97.47 % amino acid identity with the BtMV-Wa isolate from the USA. Additionally, sequences of Beet cryptic virus 2, a Deltapartitivirus, were detected. RT-PCR confirmed BtMV infection in four of seven samples collected. These results would indicate the presence of other viruses not identified in this study. Phylogenetic analysis grouped B12AR within a clade with isolates from USA and China, distinct from a divergent lineage infecting wild beets. A recombination event involving P1 and HC-Pro regions, with parental sequences from the USA and South Africa was detected. Further studies are necessary to determine the etiology of fodder beet symptoms. This is the first report and complete genome sequence of BtMV infecting fodder beet in Argentina.

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