Identification of a new potyvirus isolated from Angelica keiskei

A potyvirus with the proposed name ashitaba mosaic virus was detected in ashitaba [Angelica keiskei (Miq.)] plants exhibiting mosaic and vein clearing in Japan. The host range of the virus includes species from three families, Apiaceae, Chenopodiaceae, and Solanaceae. The genome of the virus was determined to comprise 9,651 nucleotides, excluding the poly(A) tail. A phylogenetic analysis based on the polyprotein revealed the virus is closely related to carrot thin leaf virus and potyviruses isolated from Apiales and Apiaceae plant species. Sequence comparisons indicated the nucleotide and polyprotein amino acid identities between the isolated virus and related species are 53.4–60.5% and 49.7–58.7%, respectively. These results suggest this virus is a new species in the genus Potyvirus. Furthermore, the results of a field survey suggest the virus may be widespread on the Izu Islands, with isolates classified into two genotypes.