Detection of Broad bean wilt virus 1 and Broad bean wilt virus 2 in Japan

Of the 34 isolates of Broad bean wilt virus collected from 18 prefectures in Japan during 1962 to 1999, and 122 field samples collected from 9 prefectures in 1997 to 2000, a large number of samples reacted strongly with an antiserum against Broad bean wilt virus 2 (BBWV-2) in a double-antibody sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. One of these isolates that reacted strongly with the antiserum against BBWV-2 and also reacted weakly with an antiserum against Broad bean wilt virus 1 (BBWV-1), was used for further analysis. Sequence analysis of the coat protein genes indicated that they belonged to BBWV-2. Thus, all the plants in 15 kinds of plant species collected from 20 prefectures in Japan were found to be infected with BBWV-2.