Molecular Analysis of the Global Population of Potato Virus S Redefines Its Phylogeny, and Has Crop Biosecurity Implications

Abstract

In 2020, 264 samples were collected from potato fields in the Turkish provinces of Bolu, Afyon, Kayseri and Niğde. RT-PCR tests, with primers which amplified its coat protein (CP), detected potato virus S (PVS) in 35 samples. Complete CP sequences were obtained from 14 samples. Phylogenetic analysis using non-recombinant sequences of (i) the 14 CP’s, another 8 from Tokat province and 73 others from GenBank; and (ii) 130 complete ORF, RdRp and TGB sequences from GenBank, found that they fitted within phylogroups, PVSI, PVSII or PVSIII. All Turkish CP sequences were in PVSI, clustering within five subclades. Subclades 1 and 4 were in three to four provinces, whereas 2, 3 and 5 were in one province each. All four genome regions were under strong negative selection constraints (ω = 0.0603–0.1825). Considerable genetic variation existed amongst PVSI and PVSII isolates. Three neutrality test methods showed PVSIII remained balanced whilst PVSI and PVSII underwent population expansion. The high fixation index values assigned to all PVSI, PVSII and PVSIII comparisons supported subdivision into three phylogroups. As it spreads more readily by aphid and contact transmission, and may elicit more severe symptoms in potato, PVSII spread constitutes a biosecurity threat for countries still free from it.