Occurrence and diversity of barley yellow dwarf virus in Algeria

Abstract Cereals are prone to viral infections and the economic impact of these has increased in recent years. Among these diseases barley yellow dwarf (BYD) is one of the most destructive diseases of cereals today. For three consecutive years (2014–2015–2016) surveys were carried out in order to search for BYDV species (BYDV-PAV and -MAV) as well as other cereal viruses, wheat spindle streak mosaic virus (WSSMV), southern bean mosaic virus (SBMV) and barley stripe mosaic virus (BSMV) in seven regions of Algeria (Algiers, Boumerdes, Tipaza Médéa, Adrar, Khenchla and Batna). Targeted samples were taken randomly from plants of different cereal species (wheat, barley, oats). The sample were analyzed by DAS-ELISA and RT-PCR. The results of ELISA and PCR tests showed the presence of BYDV-PAV in barley, durum wheat, soft wheat and oats. Thus, this viral species were found in all the cereal regions surveyed (North, South, East and West). Seven samples (durum wheat, barley and oats) were sequenced and phylogenetic analyses performed revealed that the Algerian sequences clustered in group I and group II.