Sequence diversity in the NIb coding region of eight sugarcane mosaic potyvirus isolates infecting sugarcane in Australia

We have sequenced the NIb coding region of sugarcane mosaic potyvirus strain SC (SCMV-SC) and eight field isolates of SCMV from Australia. This region comprised 1563 nucleotides and encoded a putative protein of 521 amino acids containing the consensus motif GDD. The protease cleavage sites between the NIa/NIb and the NIb/coat protein were found to be Q/C and Q/A, respectively. The SCMV sequences were most similar to sorghum mosaic potyvirus with identities of 70% and 78% at the nucleotide and amino acid levels, respectively. When the sequences were compared to each other, there was a maximum of 3.3% variation between isolates at the nucleotide level and a maximum of 0.8% at the amino acid level. Phylogenetic analysis of the sequences indicated the field isolates were grouped according to their geographical location. The SCMV sequence with most homology to all other isolates has been selected to generate constructs for replicase-mediated resistance.