The nucleotide sequence of small coat protein(CPS) gene of Broad bean stain virus(BBSV) was determined and compared with other comoviruses.The CPS gene of BBSV consisted of 687 nucleotides and encodes a putative protein of 228 amino acid residues.The CPS sequence of BBSV and those of other comoviruses shared identities of 36.5%-58.9% and 35.2%-70.3% at the nucleotide and amino acid levels,respectively.The RT-PCR method specific for BBSV detection was developed based on the determined CPS sequence.The RT-PCR assay presented here allows,for the first time,rapid and specific detection of BBSV.
