Shiraz University Iran Agricultural Research 1013-9885 42 2 2024 10 01 The first report of the occurrence of alfalfa mosaic virus on Tropaeolum majus and Rudbeckia hirta in Iran اولین گزارش از وقوع ویروس موزاییک یونجه از روی گل لادن و کوکب کوهی از ایران 1 3 7665 10.22099/iar.2024.50526.1613 EN Mehrdad Salehzadeh Plant Virology Research Center, School of Agriculture, Shiraz University, Shiraz, I. R. Iran Alireza Afsharifar Plant Virology Research Center, School of Agriculture, Shiraz University, Shiraz, I. R. Iran Arezoo Pakdel Plant Protection Department, Faculty of Agriculture, Bu-Ali Sina University, Hamedan, I. R. Iran Tayebeh Kiyani Plant Pathology, Shahid Chamran University, Ahvaz, I. R. Iran Journal Article 2024 06 22 <em>Tropaeolum majus</em> (garden nasturtium) and <em>Rudbeckia hirta</em> are common ornamental plants that can be susceptible to plant virus infections, leading to symptoms that adversely affect their ornamental appeal and commercial production. In this research, severe leaf chlorosis was observed on <em>T. majus</em> and <em>R. hirta</em> plants in green spaces in Shiraz and Bushehr, Iran (2023). Total RNA was extracted from five symptomatic leaf samples of each species, as well as one asymptomatic sample as a negative control. RT-PCR with alfalfa mosaic virus (AMV)-specific primers successfully amplified the expected 780 bp fragment in all symptomatic samples, but not in the asymptomatic control. Nucleotide sequencing confirmed the 780 bp size of the amplicon, and analysis revealed that the AMV isolates infecting <em>T. majus</em> (IR-GN01-Shiraz and IR-GN02-Bushehr) were most similar to an Iranian AMV isolate (Acc. No. MW_014931.1), while those infecting <em>R. hirta</em> (IR-AN04-Shiraz and  IR-AN03-Bushehr) were the most similar to Chinese AMV isolates. This study is the first report of AMV infecting <em>T. majus</em> and <em>R. hirta</em> in Iran, a noteworthy finding, considering the extensive cultivation of these ornamental plants and the potential impact of AMV on their visual and economic value. https://iar.shirazu.ac.ir/article_7665_3d5af52c63b961c43a70a06307d4a0cb.pdf