Molecular Characterization of a Strain of Squash leaf curl China Virus from North India

A Begomovirus causing yellow vein mosaic disease of pumpkin (Cucurbita maxima L.) was characterized at molecular level by cloning and sequence analysis of its complete DNA-A genome. The DNA-A of the isolate contains 2758 nucleotides which encode six open reading frames (ORFs): AV1 and AV2 in the virion-sense and AC1, AC2, AC3 and AC4 in the complementarysense. Based on the highest (96%) sequence identities and close phylogenetic relationships with Squash leaf curl China virus species, the Begomovirus was identified as strain of Squash leaf curl China virus. The presence of DNA-B genome of the virus strain was also detected by dot blot hybridization test using DNA-B specific probe.