The complete nucleotide sequence of an isolate of Dasheen mosaic virus from Zantedeschia aethiopica in Zhejiang Province, China, was determined. The 9991 nucleotide genome was typical of the genus Potyvirus and phylogenetic analysis showed it to be a member of the Bean common mosaic virus subgroup. The 3'-terminal sequence, including the coat protein region, was determined for three further isolates from China and Japan. Variations in the length and composition of the N-terminus of the coat protein were not related to geographic origin or plant host. An analysis of all potyvirus cleavage sites revealed patterns related to phylogenetic groupings.