Please permit to introduce myself as Dr. Nitika Gupta, working as a Scientist (Plant Pathology) in ICAR-IARI, Pusa Campus, New Delhi. I have 7 years of research experience in the Plant Pathology subject with specialization in Plant Virology. I have started working on viral and phytoplasmal diseases of flower crops. I have worked on potyviruses of Amaryllis, Gladiolus, Tuberose and Leek yellow stripe virus infecting Garlic.

Leek yellow stripe virus (LYSV), a member of the genus Potyvirus (family Potyviridae) infects garlic (Allium sativum) worldwide including India. Morphologically, it is a flexuous filamentous particle of 815-820 X 11-13 nm dimensions containing ssRNA of approx 10.2 kb and transmitted by aphids in non persistent manner. On the basis of serology, immunosorbent electron microscopy (ISEM), reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and sequencing, we report for the first time, the association of LYSV in garlic plants in India. CP of two LYSV isolates was sequenced and deposited in the GenBank database with the accession number KF724857 and KP168262 corresponding to the garlic cultivar AC- 50 and PGS-14, respectively. The complete genome of an isolate of Leek yellow stripe virus from India was sequenced from garlic cultivar AC-50 and the predicted amino acid (aa) sequence was analyzed. The LYSV RNA genome was 10,131 nucleotide (nt) long excluding the poly(A) tail. The genome had a large open reading frame (ORF) encoding a putative polyprotein of 3152 aa, containing conserved motifs typical to the genus Potyvirus and potentially cleaved into 10 mature proteins similar to other potyviruses. An additional small overlapping ORF designated as pretty interesting Potyviridae ORF (PIPO) was deduced in the P3 gene. The complete genome sequence of LYSV “isolate INDIA” was deposited in the GenBank database with the accession number KP168261. CP of LYSV-AC-50 was over-expressed in vitro as recombinant fusion protein in pET 28a+ system and used as immunogen for the production of polyclonal antisera. Antisera to LYSV (titre 1:2000) detected the LYSV in DAC-ELISA in 16 out of 21 different garlic accessions. The antiserum specifically reacted with LYSV virions in immunosorbent electron microscopy, Dot immunobinding assay (DIBA) and direct antigen coated-enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (DAC-ELISA). The LYSV antiserum (1:2000) was successfully used in DAC-ELISA for specific detection of LYSV infection in field samples. To further simplify the methodology of antigen preparation, synthetic peptides representing antigenic epitopes were identified and used for production of polyclonal antibodies to LYSV. Two linear epitopes were identified at N and C- terminal of CP of LYSV (pep-I and pep-II), synthesized and used for polyclonal antiserum production.