New Natural Weed Hosts of Sweet potato feathery mottle virus in Syria

A survey was conducted along the Syrian coastal area to identify natural weed hosts of Sweet potato feathery mottle virus (SPFMV, genus Potyvirus, family Potyviridae). Eight hundred sixty eight selected samples representing fifty six species (forty five genera, twenty three families) were collected from ten fields related to five regions (Zagrin, Sarsakia, Brgan, Ras Al-Aen, and Hreson) during 2006/2007 and 2007/2008 growing seasons. All samples were tested for the presence of Sweet potato feathery mottle virus by using tissue blot immunoassay and polyclonel antibodies. Results showed that nineteen species were naturally infected with Sweet potato feathery mottle virus including Amaranthus retroflexus L., Atriplex hastate L., Brasica oleracea var. capitata., Calendula officinalis L., Capsicum annum L., Chenopodium sp., Chenopodium hybridum L., Chenopodium polyspermum L., Chenopodium vulvaria L., Convolvulus arvensis L., Cucurbit maxima Dush., Heliotropium europaeum L., Ipomoea violacea L., Malva neglecta Wallr., Mentha arvensis L., Phaseolus lanatus L., Sinapis arvensis L., Spinacea oleracea L and Traxacum officinale Web belonging to twelve families and mostly to the families Chenopodiaceae and Convolvulaceae. All weed species were recorded for the first time in Syria as natural hosts of SPFMV.