The Nucleotide Sequence of the Coat Protein Gene and 3' Untranslated Region of Azuki Bean Mosaic Potyvirus, a Member of the Bean Common Mosaic Virus Subgroup. Candace W. Collmer. Department of Biological and Chemical Sciences, Wells College, Aurora, NY 13026 U.S.A. Marcia F. Marston (2), Susanne M. Albert(1), Sonia Bajaj(1), Heather A. Maville(1), Sarah E. Ruuska (1), Erika J. Vesely(1), and Molly M. Kyle(2). (1) Department of Biological and Chemical Sciences, Wells College, Aurora, NY 13026 U.S.A. (2) Department of Plant Breeding and Biometry, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853 U.S.A. MPMI 9:758-761. Accepted 28 June 1996. Copyright 1996 The American Phytopathological Society.

The relationship of azuki bean mosaic potyvirus (AzMV) to members of the bean common mosaic virus (BCMV) subgroup has been unclear. Degenerate oligonucleotide primers and the polymerase chain reaction were used to amplify and clone the coat protein (CP) gene and 3' untranslated region (UTR) of AzMV. The deduced amino acid sequence of the CP is 94% identical to that of den-drobium mosaic virus, establishing the two as strains of the same virus. While the CP amino acid identities between AzMV and potyviruses of the BCMV species are at or below 90%, the 91 to 94% identity between their UTRs suggests that AzMV could be considered a strain of BCMV. Interestingly, the grouping of potyviruses within the greater BCMV subgroup on a coat protein amino acid tree correlates with a grouping based on the response elicited on bean containing the I gene for resistance to BCMV.