Leaf curl diseases symptoms were observed in a zucchini squash field west Baghdad. Total DNA was extracted from leaves collected from three symptomatic plants using a commercial plant DNA extraction kit. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) using genus specific primers were used to amplify the viral DNA fragments. PCR products were visualized by gel electrophoresis and directly sequenced. Sequence analysis using MEGA6 software confirmed the detection of Squash leaf curl virus (SLCV) when shared 99%

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... aximum nucleotide sequence identity with equivalent GenBank sequence from Israel (KT099131) and (KM595115), Jordan (JX444577) and (KM595211), Lebanon (KM595136) and Palestine (KM595230). The high nucleotide sequence identity suggests the virus could be introduced to Iraq from neighboring countries through infected plant materials. Restriction site similarity was tested to show sequence variability. In silico restriction digestion was applied to SLCV sequences to compare restriction sites similarities in partial CP region amplified. Both obtained and equivalent GenBank sequences were digested virtually using NEBcutter V2 software and compared on the basis of restriction enzyme and restriction site incidence. When compared to equivalent sequences, SLCV from Iraq shared 96% maximum restriction site (RS) similarity with SLCV from Israel (KM595115). While it scored 56% maximum RS similarity to TYLCV sequences from Iraq (JQ025990), (JQ025991) and (JQ025993). In silico restriction digestion showed to be a useful approach to differentiate among SLCV sequences.