Partial sequencing of a putative Alstroemeria necrotic streak orthotospovirus isolate detected on lettuce in Colombia

ABSTRACT Lettuce is the most cultivated leafy salad vegetable in Colombia, being the municipality of Madrid, in the Department of Cundinamarca, the second largest producer. In this region, lettuce plants with foliar symptoms characterized by brown necrotic spots forming an extended necrotic area, chlorosis, leaf distortion and plant stunting have been detected, possibly caused by a viral infection associated with the Orthotospovirus genus. This study aimed to identify the orthotospovirus species associated with those symptoms, contributing to updating the lettuce phytosanitary status in this region. The presence of orthotospovirus was confirmed by the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (DAS-ELISA), although the sequence of the nucleocapsid (N) gene confirmed the presence of Alstroemeria necrotic streak orthotospovirus, disregarding the Tomato spotted wilt orthotospovirus and Impatiens necrotic spot orthotospovirus previously reported for this crop, being this its first report in lettuce crops in Colombia.