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Virus Diseases of Broad Bean in Spain

Broad bean (Vicia faba L.) plants showing symptoms suggestive of viral infection, such as stunting, leaf roll, mosaic, chlorosis, necrosis, and yellowing, were observed in the Andalucia, Baleares, Cataluna, and Murcia regions of Spain. A 4-year field survey showed the presence of five viruses: bean leaf roll luteovirus (BLRV), beet western yellows luteovirus (BWYV), bean yellow mosaic potyvirus (BYMV), tomato spotted wilt tospovirus (TSWV), and cucumber mosaic cucumovirus (CMV). Identity of viruses was first determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and confirmed by at least one other method, such as inoculation to plant hosts, electron microscopy, molecular hybridization, or immunocapture-reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction. Of the 250 samples assayed, 93 were positive for BYMV, 21 for BLRV, 10 for BWYV, 30 for TSWV, and 2 for CMV. Faba bean necrotic yellow virus (a single-strand DNA virus) and broad bean mottle bromovirus, which are widely distributed in the Mediterranean basin, were not detected in the samples analyzed. BYMV was distributed in all regions, whereas TSWV was restricted only to Mediterranean areas. To our knowledge, this is the first report of viruses infecting broad bean in Spain.