Sweet cherry, a new host of raspberry bushy dwarf virus

Raspberry bushy dwarf virus (RBDV) is one of the most important pathogens of raspberries worldwide. In this study, we detected RBDV from 8 out of 50 cherry samples collected from Bursa, Turkey by DAS-ELISA and/or RT-PCR. We also determined the nearly full genome sequences of RBDV RNA2 from two cherry (Prunus avium) trees. The genomes were identical and shared 87.2 to 97.2% similarity to the RBDV RNA2 sequences from Rubus spp. and grapevine isolates available in GenBank, respectively. Phylogenetic analyses of RNA2 and MP gene sequences grouped cherry sequences in a clade more closely related to the grapevine clade (75 and 86% bootstrap value) while the topology based on the CP gene resulted in three separate clusters according host plant identity. Although host-dependent differentiations were confirmed in this study, no obvious geographical differentiation was observed from phylogenetic analysis, and no recombination events were detected. RBDV is found in raspberry and blackberry in many countries, including Turkey, however, here we report the first natural RBDV infection of cherry worldwide.