Garlic (Allium sativumL.) is a host to several viruses, most commonly those belonging to theAllexivirus,Carlavirus, orPotyvirusgenera. Nine species distributed among these three genera have been reported in Brazil: two species within carlaviruses, two within potyviruses, and five within allexiviruses. To quantify the prevalence of these viruses, young leaves from 520 plants (plants either symptomatic or asymptomatic) were collected from commercial fields grown in four Brazilian states and analyzed using universal and species-specific primers via the reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Potyvirus presence was positive in 306 samples (81 %), 151 of them (38 %) in mixed infections with other viruses. The most frequent potyviruses wereOnion yellow dwarf virus(OYDV, 56 %) andLeek yellow stripe virus(LYSV, 55 %). 187 samples (49 %) were positive for allexivirus, with 33 (9 %) showing single infections and 154 (41 %) showing mixed infections withGarlic virus A (GarV-A),Garlic virus B(GarV-B),Garlic virus C(GarV-C),Garlic virus D(GarV-D), and species belonging to theCarlavirus andPotyvirusgenera. The predominant species in which allexiviruses were found were GarV-A and GarV-D. Only 15 samples (4 %) were infected solely by a carlavirus, and 63 (17 %) showed mixed infections with viruses from different genera. The dominant species of carlavirus wasGarlic commom latent virus(GarCLV). Carlaviruses and allexiviruses are frequently associated with mixed infections with potyviruses, whereas mixed infections with carlaviruses and allexiviruses are rare. About 70 % of the plants collected were positive for at least one species of virus.

Em campos de produção comercial de alho é comum observar plantas naturalmente infectadas por vírus dos gêneros Allexivirus, Carlavirus e Potyvirus. Os bulbilhos aéreos podem ser uma alternativa para a propagação de plantas de alho livres de vírus. Desta forma, o objetivo deste trabalho foi analisar a taxa de perpetuação dos vírus de plantas infectadas para os bulbilhos aéreos. Os bulbilhos aéreos obtidos de plantas infectadas foram analisados por RT-PCR utilizando oligonucleotídeos universais para os gêneros Allexivirus, Carlavirus e Potyvirus. A taxa de perpetuação foi de 65% para allexivírus, 20% para carlavírus e 82,22% para potyvírus. Os resultados demonstraram que a perpetuação dos diferentes vírus do bulbo para os bulbilhos aéreos é elevada, inviabilizando a utilização direta dos bulbilhos aéreos provenientes de plantas matrizes infectadas por vírus. Esta metodologia deve ser utilizada somente a partir de plantas isentas de vírus.

In commercial garlic fields, plants naturally infected by viruses of the genera Allexivirus, Carlavirus and Potyvirus are commonly observed. Aerial bulbils may be an alternative for the propagation of virus-free garlic plants. Thus, the aim of this study was to analyze the rate of virus perpetuation from infected plants to aerial bulbils. Aerial bulbils obtained from infected plants were analyzed by RT-PCR using universal primers for the genera Allexivirus, Carlavirus and Potyvirus. Results showed that the perpetuation of different viruses from the bulb to aerial bulbils is high, impairing the direct use of aerial bulbils from virus-infected matrix plants. This methodology should use solely virus-free plants.

Entre os problemas fitossanitários da cultura da alface estão as doenças causadas por vírus. Três vírus causam sintomas de mosaico praticamente indistinguíveis: o Lettuce mosaic virus (LMV, Potyvirus), o Lettuce mottle virus (LeMoV, Sequivirus) e o Bidens mosaic virus (BiMV, Potyvirus). Através de RT-PCR utilizando-se oligonucleotídeos específicos para cada um destes vírus, amostras de alface e plantas invasoras, preferencialmente com sintoma de mosaico, foram coletadas em campos de produção de alface das regiões de Mogi das Cruzes, Campinas e Bauru no Estado de São Paulo e analisadas para a presença dos vírus. Verificou-se que o LeMoV foi o vírus encontrado com maior freqüência, seguido do LMV. A ocorrência de BiMV em alface foi extremamente baixa e restrita às regiões de Campinas e Bauru, onde também foi verificado em plantas invasoras como Bidens pilosa e Galinsoga parviflora. Esta ultima é hospedeira dos três vírus.

Among the phytosanitary problems affecting lettuce culture are the diseases caused by viruses. Three viruses cause almost indistinguishable mosaic symptoms: Lettuce mosaic virus (LMV, Potyvirus), Lettuce mottle virus (LeMoV, Sequivirus) and Bidens mosaic virus (BiMV, Potyvirus). By RT-PCR using specific primers for each virus, lettuce and weed samples, preferably with mosaic symptoms, and collected from lettuce fields in the regions of Mogi das Cruzes, Campinas and Bauru, São Paulo State, Brazil, were analyzed for the presence of these viruses. LeMoV was the most frequently found virus, followed by LMV. The occurrence of BiMV in lettuce was extremely low and restricted to the regions of Campinas and Bauru, where it was also found in weeds such as Bidens pilosa and Galinsoga parviflora. The latter plant is the host of these three viruses.