Molecular characterization of Grapevine virus A isolates from Jordan

A total of 1141 samples of petioles and canes of grapevines from different locations in Jordan were tested by DAS-ELISA for Grapevine virus A (GVA). About 14.2% of samples were infected with GVA. Using Reverse Transcription- Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR) or Immunocapture (IC)-RT-PCR, a fragment of 430 bp of the coat protein gene was amplified using the primer pair H587/C995. Fifteen clones were sequenced and aligned with each other and with the Jordanian isolate (GVA-Jo) using the DNAMAN program. Alignment analysis showed that all Jordanian isolates shared 100% nucleotide identity with each other and with the Jordanian isolate GVA-Jo. To classify the collected GVA isolates in one of the GVA groups a pairwise nucleotide alignment between isolate GVA-5R and isolates from South Africa; 92/778, JP98 and P163-1 representing GVA group I, II and III respectively was done. Alignment results indicated that isolate GVA-5R shared 90, 83, and 76% nucleotide similarity with GVA groups I, II, and III, respectively