COLLECTION OF, AND SEROLOGICAL AND MOLECULAR VIRAL DISEASE DETECTION IN LOCAL GARLIC (ALLIUM SATIVUM L.) ACCESSIONS COLLECTED FROM NORTHERN CYPRUS

This study was conducted by collecting samples of garlic (Allium sativum L.) and studying its morphological characteristics to determine which viral diseases are causing an economic loss of yield in cultivation areas in Northern Cyprus. Considering their morphological characteristics, 87 garlic genotypes were collected from 6 different locations in Northern Cyprus, 83 of which were infected with one or more viruses. The isolates obtained were tested against Garlic common latent virus (GarCLV), Leek yellow strip virus (LYSV), Shallot latent virus (SLV), Cucumber mosaic virus (CMV), Tobacco mosaic virus (TMV), and Onion yellow dwarf virus (OYDV). For diagnoses, both double antibody sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction techniques were used. Eighty-seven garlic-leaf samples and 87 garlic clove samples were tested. The results from these samples were similar. Among the 87 plants tested, 38 (44%) were positive for GarCLV, 25 (29%) for LYSV, 15 (17%) for SLV, and 5 (5.7%) for OYDV. GarCLV was found to be the most common virus in the isolates.