Studies on molecular variability of coat protein gene of Papaya ringspot virus-P isolates from India

Papaya ringspot virus (PRSV) is the key pathogen responsible for damage of the papaya plant and significant loss of fruit yield globally. Its coat protein (CP) sequences are highly variable and provide adaptability to the virus in the papaya plant. Due to the variability, the major concern facing of papaya cultivation is the breakdown of CP-transgenic PRSV resistance. In this study, 16 PRSV isolates were collected from different locations in seven districts of Uttar Pradesh, India and the variability of the CP gene of the virus was analysed. Further, it was compared with the isolates from other geographical origins. High diversity in CP sequences of our isolates was observed when compared with other Indian isolates. Phylogenetic analysis also revealed that PRSV isolates were more divergent from isolates of other countries. This study of sequence variation in the CP could be further very useful in virus management and development of broad-spectrum virus-resistant transgenic papaya.