Fig infecting viruses

State of Arte Ficus Carica is a flowering plant in Mulberry family (Moraceae) .

It is widely distributed worldwide, especially the Middle East countries where it has a traditional and economical importance

Diseases induced by intracellular infectious agents (viruses, viroids, phytoplasmas) represent a major threat to fruit trees and resulting in 30 -40% yields loss.

Figs (Ficus carica) are an old and most common fruit grown in all the Mediterranean countries, recently were indicated that the fig were infected with viral and virus –like diseases, Fig mosaic virus was one of them.

List of viruses infecting Fig trees and the year of their identification Fig leaf mottle-associated virus 1 (FLMaV-1) [2006] Closterovirus

Fig leaf mottle-associated virus 2 (FLMaV-2) [2007] Ampelovirus

Fig mosaic virus (FMV) [2009] Emaravirus

Fig latent virus 1 (FLV-1) [2009] Trichovirus

Arkansas fig closterovirus-1 (AFCV-1 ) [2010] Closterovirus

Arkansas fig closterovirus-2 (AFCV-2 ) [2010] Closterovirus

Fig mild mottle-associated virus (FMMaV) [2010] Closterovirus

Fig badnavirus-1 (FBV-1) [2010] Badnavirus

Fig cryptic virus ((FCV) [2011] Alphacrpticvirus

Fig fleck-associated virus (FFkaV) [2011] Maculavirus

Apple dimple fruit viroid (ADFVd) [2014] Apscaviroid

Closterovirus FLMaV-1, FMMaV, AFCV-1, AFCV-2 are viruses classified within

(Closterovirus ; Closteroviridae).

FLMaV-2 is falls under Closteroviridae family, but it is under Ampelovirus genus .

The virion of both genus is non-enveloped, flexuous and exceptionally long, filamentous particles.

The virion body is assembled by the major capsid protein (CP) and the tail by the minor capsid protein (CPm).

The genome is mono-partite linear ssRNA(+), has no poly(A) tract and the 5’ terminus probably has a methylated nucleotide cap.

Badnavirus FBV-1 is an example of the Badnavirus, Caulimoviridae

Badnavirus virion is not enveloped, bacilliform particles, monopartite, open circular, double stranded DNA genome with discontinuities in both strands: one in the transcribed strand and one to three in the non-transcribed strand.

Alphacrpticvirus Finally, FCV is under

Alphacrpticvirus; Partitiviridae.

The two genomic segments linear dsRNAgenome are encapsulated separately.

What are the ongoing Research objectives Nowadays???? The main objectives of this project was to assess the

genetic and biological diversity of viruses infecting Figs worldwide

In Palestine , recently this topic is getting our interests

Field survey and biological study

UBA –Lab testingTNA – cDNA - PCR

RT-PCR resultsThe FMV incidence were found in

most of the figs collected from Palestinian fields

Preliminary results

Virus tested

Fig Samples FMV FBV FLMaV-1 FLMaV-2 FLV-1 FCV ADFVd

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Other research work Sequencing the variants

14 of positive PCR samples were sent for sequencing portion of the FMV to be then compared with the available sequences in the gene bank

Expanding the study to include all known fig viruses

Monitoring the expressed symptoms with the molecular results to correlate the variants with the symptoms on the tree

Survey for these viruses in Palestinian fig trees to assess the sanitary status of the fig viruses in Palestine