Sweet cherry is an economically important stone fruit grown in temperate regions of Turkey and the world with increasing production. With an annual production of 480.748 tons, Turkey is the leading sweet cherry producers in the world providing about 20% of world production. Isparta province, especially Uluborlu district, is one of the most important sweet cherry production and exportation centers of Turkey (Anonymous, 2014). Although sweet cherry production has been increasing recently, pathogens, especially viruses, cause diseases reducing the yield and quality of fruits leading to significant economical losses. A number of viruses reported to cause diseases in sweet cherry (Myrta and Savino, 2008; Nemeth, 1986). Many studies in different regions showed that Prune dwarf virus (PDV) is the most widespread virus in sweet cherry production areas. It is generally found as mixed infections with Prunus necroctic ring spot virus (PNRSV) and Apple necroctic leaf spot virus (ACLSV) (Cevik et al., 2011; Mandic et al., 2007; Myrta and Savino, 2008). Previous studies reported that PDV infection rate was 67.2–80% in Mediterranean countries (Myrta et al., 2003; Myrta and Savino, 2008), 37.6% in Serbia (Mandic et al., 2007) and 5–55% in Turkey (Caglayan-Yildizgordu and Hurigil, 1996; Cevik et al., 2011; Gumus et al., 2007). Occurrence of PDV has previously been reported in different growing regions of Turkey including Aegean (Dunez 1986; Gumus et al., 2007), Eastern Mediterranean (Caglayan-Yildizgordu and Hurugil 1996; Sertkaya et al., 2004), Western Mediterranean (Cevik et al., 2011), Eastern Anatolia (Sipahioglu et al., 1999), Central Anatolia (Elibuyuk, 2003). PDV is able to infect sweet cherry, sour cherry, apricot, plum and peach as well as other Prunus species by mechanical inoculation, grafting, pollens and seeds transmission (Nemeth, 1986). While PDV is commonly found in stone fruit production areas, severity of symptoms may vary based on host, virus strain and/or temperature (Diekmann and Putter, 1996). Trees infected with PDV generally have small and narrow or curled leaves, short internodes, and PDV also cause cholorotic ring spots especially on sweet cherry and sour cherry leaves (Sutic et al., 1999). Generally, PDV does not affect organs other than leaves, but mixed infection with PNRSV cause reduction in number of fruit buds and formation of leafless shoots (Kunze, 1988). PDV belongs to Ilarvirus genus in the Bromoviridae family and has a tripartite single-stranded positive-sense RNA genome. The segments of the genome are encapsidated by a single coat protein (CP) into three isometric particles with a diameter of 19–26 nm. The virus particles contain 14% nucleic acid and 86% protein and the CP is about 24 kDa (Brunt et al., 1996; Halk and Fulton, 1978). The CP gene has been used as target for serological and molecular detections as well as molecular characterization and genetic diversity studies of PDV isolates from different geographical origins and host plants (Bachmanet et al., 1994; Boulila, 2010; Ulubas Serce et al., 2009; Vaskova et al., 2000; Youssef et al., 2002). The CP gene sequences of 11 PDV isolates from plum, sweet cherry and peach trees in Central Europe were determined. Comparison of the CP gene sequences of these isolates and two previously sequenced isolates showed that the CP gene are highly conserved with more than 88% identity in both nucleotide (nt) and amino acid (aa) sequences. The results also showed that the C-terminal half of the CP was more conserved than the N-terminal half. No association with sequence variation within the CP gene and the geographic origins and/or hosts of PDV isolates was observed (Vaskova et al., 2000). Comparison of the CP gene sequences of peach and plum isolates from Egypt and a sweet cherry isolate from the USA with previously sequenced peach isolate from the USA (Bachman et al., 1994) showed 97% and 98% nt sequence identity, respectively (Youssef et al., 2002). The CP gene sequence of an almond isolate from Tunisia was determined and compared with previously sequenced PDV isolates in the GenBank databases. It showed 86–96% sequence similarity with the CP gene of PDV isolates from different host and geographical origins. Phylogenetic analysis of 32 PDV isolates revealed that they were divided into four distinct groups mostly correlated with geographical origin or recombination within the CP gene (Boulila, 2010). Sequence analyses of the CP gene of 10 PDV isolates, one from apricot and 9 from sweet cherry trees grown in different regions of Turkey, showed 87–99% and 84–99% sequence identity at nt and aa level, respectively. Phylogenetic analysis of these isolates and other PDV isolates from different countries and various Prunus hosts revealed four distinct groups of isolates clustered largely based on their hosts. Group I and IV contained only sweet cherry and almond isolates, respectively. However, group II composed of apricot and sweet cherry isolates and the group III was most divers containing isolates from plum, peach, and sweet cherry (Ulubas Serce et al., 2009). In this study, sweet cherry isolates of PDV from Isparta Province of Turkey, which is one of the most important sweet cherry production and export centers, was identified by double antibody sandwich (DAS)-ELISA and RT-PCR methods. The CP gene of isolates representing different districts were sequenced and compared with previously determined CP gene sequences of PDV isolates from different geographical origins and various Prunus hosts.