Citrus Bent Leaf Viroid from Fars Province of Iran

Background and Aims: CBLVd has been reported from northern of Iran previously. The aim of this study was evaluating new viroid variant from asymptomatic citrus trees of Fars province and comparing with its other isolates. Materials and Methods: In this study a number of citrus trees without symptoms were sampled and subjected to RNA extraction followed by RT-PCR, cloning and sequencing of PCR products. Molecular properties of viroid variants were compared. Results: A novel variant of CBLVd from Fars was achieved and used for comparison with a number of other CBLVd sequences from GenBank. It was shown that on the basis of sequence homology, CBLVd isolate from Fars province and two CBLVd isolates reported from Pakistan (Punjab) clustered in one group. It is supposed that these variants possibly will have same origin and probably imported from Pakistan to Iran by infected plant tissues or transplants. Conclusions: Therefore, we propose that the government regulates the importation of plants and plant products under the precise and rigorous authority of the plant protection institutes.