P-598 - Study on PSbMV adaptation in various legumes and its effects on viral genome and disease severity

Pea seed-borne mosaic virus (PSbMV) is a member of the genus Potyvirus (Potyvirus pisumsemenportati) that causes significant damage to pulse and forage crops worldwide. There is a continuous effort to develop virus-resistant varieties against PSbMV. However, the virus adaptation in various legumes and the resulting change in virulence, disease severity and mutations in the viral genome have not been well-studied. To understand viral adaptation, we used PSbMV established in peas and performed serial virus passages in three legume species (pea, chickpea, and faba bean) over six generations. These species-specific virus strains were then used to inoculate peas, chickpeas, and lentils, and their disease progression was recorded. Additionally, full genome sequences of these virus strains were generated using next-generation sequencing. Our results showed no significant changes in the disease severity, but a few mutations in the viral genome were observed. This study highlights the potential region in the PSbMV genome susceptible to change during adaptation and provides a better understanding of the variation in the virus isolates.