Molecular characterization and phylogenetic analysis of Citrus viroid V isolates from Pakistan.

Citrus viroid V (CVd-V) was recently characterized and belongs to the genus Apscaviroid within the family Pospiviroidae. 334 CVd-V isolates were identified from Punjab, Pakistan, where CVd-V had not been reported. A total of 68 independent cDNA clones were sequenced from 11 infected trees of different cultivars, ranging from 292 to 295 nucleotides. The nucleotide diversity estimated from the nucleotide distances of the CVd-V Pakistan population was similar to that reported from other countries. Based on genetic diversity and phylogenetic analysis, two main CVd-V groups were identified indicating that Pakistan might be one of the geographic origins of CVd-V worldwide. We demonstrated that this viroid has not emerged recently and it is more widespread than previously expected. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]