Sequence characterization of Dasheen mosaic virus isolates from cocoyam in Nicaragua

Dasheen mosaic virus (DsMV) is an important constraint to production of cocoyam (Xanthosoma spp.) in Nicaragua. Reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction was used to amplify the coat protein (CP) region from ten Nicaraguan DsMV isolates. These isolates showed high nucleotide identity to DsMV isolates from the USA, eastern Asia and Australasia. All Nicaraguan isolates except one shared a tandem repeat in the N-terminus of the CP. Phylogenetic analyses showed that the Nicaraguan isolates formed two distinct subgroups correlated with geographic origin. This can be explained by different origins of the cocoyam genotypes grown in these regions.