Highly divergent isolates of chrysanthemum virus B and chrysanthemum virus R infecting chrysanthemum in Russia.

We found a wide distribution of CVB and CVR in the chrysanthemum germplasm collection of the Nikita Botanical Gardens, which is the largest in Russia. Six near complete genomes of CVR and CVB isolates from Russia were assembled and characterized for the first time. This is the first report of CVR in Russia and outside of China thus expanding the information on the geographical distribution of the virus. Highly divergent CVB and CVR isolates have been identified that contributes the better understanding the genetic diversity of these viruses.