Mungbean (Vigna radiata (L.) Wilczek) is a fast-growing warm-season legume, native to the Indian subcontinent; widely cultivated in Southeast Asia. It is an important pulse crop because of its short growth duration, low water requirement, and as a crop suitable for crop rotation and nutritional security being a rich source of protein. Biotic stress produced by viruses especially yellow mosaic virus (YMV) is the main constraint in its production causing substantial yield losses. The detection and diagnosis of viruses is most important to excogitate a management strategy. In this study coat protein gene was employed as a well characterized and widely used means for the identification as well as classification of different strains of YMV. Molecular characterization of YMV was done by using the coat protein (CP) gene of five isolates collected from Dharwad, Belgaum, Amravati, Gulbarga and Bengaluru to confirm their identity; isolates from Dharwad and Belgaum were classified as mungbean yellow mosaic India virus (MYMIV) and isolates from Amravati, Gulbarga and Bengaluru as mungbean yellow mosaic virus MYMV. Geographical confinement of species of YMV is validated; as MYMIV strain is more prevalent in northern, central and eastern regions of India whereas, MYMV is predominant in the southern regions.

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