Evolutionary Characterization of Two Lily Isolates of Cucumber mosaic virus Isolated in Japan and Korea

We analyzed the evolutionary histories of two lily strains of Cucumber mosaic virus (CMV) isolated in Japan and Korea (HL- and Ly2-CMVs). They share common biological characteristics in that their host ranges are very restricted perhaps from a unique adaptation to lily plants. Although HL and Ly2 were isolated independently from different lily species in separate countries, their RNA3 sequences had a very high sequence similarity (97%). The evolutionary relationships between the two isolates were characterized by comparing their phylogenetic trees for the 3a and CP genes. The two lily CMVs always formed a distinct cluster within subgroup IB in 3a, but within IA in CP. Together, the phylogenetic tree topology and the sequence identity between the two lily CMVs suggest that they evolved from a common progenitor. Received 5 November 2001/ Accepted in revised form 11 January 2002