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18 pages, 2038 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Epidemiological Analysis of Cassava Mosaic and Brown Streak Diseases, and Bemisia tabaci in the Comoros Islands

by Rudolph Rufini Shirima, Everlyne Nafula Wosula, Abdou Azali Hamza, Nobataine Ali Mohammed, Hadji Mouigni, Salima Nouhou, Naima Mmadi Mchinda, Gloria Ceasar, Massoud Amour, Emmanuel Njukwe and James Peter Legg

Viruses 2022, 14(10), 2165; https://doi.org/10.3390/v14102165 - 30 Sep 2022

Cited by 8 | Viewed by 2738

Abstract

A comprehensive assessment of cassava brown streak disease (CBSD) and cassava mosaic disease (CMD) was carried out in Comoros where cassava yield (5.7 t/ha) is significantly below the African average (8.6 t/ha) largely due to virus diseases. Observations from 66 sites across the [...] Read more.

A comprehensive assessment of cassava brown streak disease (CBSD) and cassava mosaic disease (CMD) was carried out in Comoros where cassava yield (5.7 t/ha) is significantly below the African average (8.6 t/ha) largely due to virus diseases. Observations from 66 sites across the Comoros Islands of Mwali, Ngazidja, and Ndzwani revealed that 83.3% of cassava fields had foliar symptoms of CBSD compared with 95.5% for CMD. Molecular diagnostics confirmed the presence of both cassava brown streak ipomoviruses (CBSIs) and cassava mosaic begomoviruses (CMBs). Although real-time RT-PCR only detected the presence of one CBSI species (Cassava brown streak virus, CBSV) the second species (Ugandan cassava brown streak virus, UCBSV) was identified using next-generation high-throughput sequencing. Both PCR and HTS detected the presence of East African cassava mosaic virus (EACMV). African cassava mosaic virus was not detected in any of the samples. Four whitefly species were identified from a sample of 131 specimens: Bemisia tabaci, B. afer, Aleurodicus dispersus, and Paraleyrodes bondari. Cassava B. tabaci comprised two mitotypes: SSA1-SG2 (89%) and SSA1-SG3 (11%). KASP SNP genotyping categorized 82% of cassava B. tabaci as haplogroup SSA-ESA. This knowledge will provide an important base for developing and deploying effective management strategies for cassava viruses and their vectors. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Plant Virus Surveillance and Metagenomics)

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11 pages, 2554 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Small RNA Sequencing and Multiplex RT-PCR for Diagnostics of Grapevine Viruses and Virus-like Organisms

by Vanja Miljanić, Jernej Jakše, Denis Rusjan, Andreja Škvarč and Nataša Štajner

Viruses 2022, 14(5), 921; https://doi.org/10.3390/v14050921 - 28 Apr 2022

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 2784

Abstract

Metagenomic approaches used for virus diagnostics allow for rapid and accurate detection of all viral pathogens in the plants. In order to investigate the occurrence of viruses and virus-like organisms infecting grapevine from the Ampelographic collection Kromberk in Slovenia, we used Ion Torrent [...] Read more.

Metagenomic approaches used for virus diagnostics allow for rapid and accurate detection of all viral pathogens in the plants. In order to investigate the occurrence of viruses and virus-like organisms infecting grapevine from the Ampelographic collection Kromberk in Slovenia, we used Ion Torrent small RNA sequencing (sRNA-seq) and the VirusDetect pipeline to analyze the sRNA-seq data. The used method revealed the presence of: Grapevine leafroll-associated virus 1 (GLRaV-1), Grapevine leafroll-associated virus 2 (GLRaV-2), Grapevine leafroll-associated virus 3 (GLRaV-3), Grapevine rupestris stem pitting-associated virus (GRSPaV), Grapevine fanleaf virus (GFLV) and its satellite RNA (satGFLV), Grapevine fleck virus (GFkV), Grapevine rupestris vein feathering virus (GRVFV), Grapevine Pinot gris virus (GPGV), Grapevine satellite virus (GV-Sat), Hop stunt viroid (HSVd), and Grapevine yellow speckle viroid 1 (GYSVd-1). Multiplex reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (mRT-PCR) was developed for validation of sRNA-seq predicted infections, including various combinations of viruses or viroids and satellite RNA. mRT-PCR could further be used for rapid and cost-effective routine molecular diagnosis, including widespread, emerging, and seemingly rare viruses, as well as viroids which testing is usually overlooked. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Plant Virus Surveillance and Metagenomics)

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18 pages, 1624 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Viruses Infecting Greenhood Orchids (Pterostylidinae) in Eastern Australia

by Hsu-Yao Chao, Mark A. Clements, Anne M. Mackenzie, Ralf G. Dietzgen, John E. Thomas and Andrew D. W. Geering

Viruses 2022, 14(2), 365; https://doi.org/10.3390/v14020365 - 10 Feb 2022

Cited by 7 | Viewed by 2777

Abstract

The Australasian biogeographic realm is a major centre of diversity for orchids, with every subfamily of the Orchidaceae represented and high levels of endemism at the species rank. It is hypothesised that there is a commensurate diversity of viruses infecting this group of [...] Read more.

The Australasian biogeographic realm is a major centre of diversity for orchids, with every subfamily of the Orchidaceae represented and high levels of endemism at the species rank. It is hypothesised that there is a commensurate diversity of viruses infecting this group of plants. In this study, we have utilised high-throughput sequencing to survey for viruses infecting greenhood orchids (Pterostylidinae) in New South Wales and the Australian Capital Territory. The main aim of this study was to characterise Pterostylis blotch virus (PtBV), a previously reported but uncharacterised virus that had been tentatively classified in the genus Orthotospovirus. This classification was confirmed by genome sequencing, and phylogenetic analyses suggested that PtBV is representative of a new species that is possibly indigenous to Australia as it does not belong to either the American or Eurasian clades of orthotospoviruses. Apart from PtBV, putative new viruses in the genera Alphaendornavirus, Amalgavirus, Polerovirus and Totivirus were discovered, and complete genome sequences were obtained for each virus. It is concluded that the polerovirus is likely an example of an introduced virus infecting a native plant species in its natural habitat, as this virus is probably vectored by an aphid, and Australia has a depauperate native aphid fauna that does not include any species that are host-adapted to orchids. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Plant Virus Surveillance and Metagenomics)

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18 pages, 25956 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Integrating High throughput Sequencing into Survey Design Reveals Turnip Yellows Virus and Soybean Dwarf Virus in Pea (Pisum Sativum) in the United Kingdom

by Aimee R. Fowkes, Sam McGreig, Hollie Pufal, Shona Duffy, Becky Howard, Ian P. Adams, Roy Macarthur, Rebecca Weekes and Adrian Fox

Viruses 2021, 13(12), 2530; https://doi.org/10.3390/v13122530 - 16 Dec 2021

Cited by 29 | Viewed by 4972

Abstract

There is only limited knowledge of the presence and incidence of viruses in peas within the United Kingdom, therefore high-throughput sequencing (HTS) in combination with a bulk sampling strategy and targeted testing was used to determine the virome in cultivated pea crops. Bulks [...] Read more.

There is only limited knowledge of the presence and incidence of viruses in peas within the United Kingdom, therefore high-throughput sequencing (HTS) in combination with a bulk sampling strategy and targeted testing was used to determine the virome in cultivated pea crops. Bulks of 120 leaves collected from twenty fields from around the UK were initially tested by HTS, and presence and incidence of virus was then determined using specific real-time reverse-transcription PCR assays by testing smaller mixed-bulk size samples. This study presents the first finding of turnip yellows virus (TuYV) in peas in the UK and the first finding of soybean dwarf virus (SbDV) in the UK. While TuYV was not previously known to be present in UK peas, it was found in 13 of the 20 sites tested and was present at incidences up to 100%. Pea enation mosaic virus-1, pea enation mosaic virus-2, pea seed-borne mosaic virus, bean yellow mosaic virus, pea enation mosaic virus satellite RNA and turnip yellows virus associated RNA were also identified by HTS. Additionally, a subset of bulked samples were re-sequenced at greater depth to ascertain whether the relatively low depth of sequencing had missed any infections. In each case the same viruses were identified as had been identified using the lower sequencing depth. Sequencing of an isolate of pea seed-borne mosaic virus from 2007 also revealed the presence of TuYV and SbDV, showing that both viruses have been present in the UK for at least a decade, and represents the earliest whole genome of SbDV from Europe. This study demonstrates the potential of HTS to be used as a surveillance tool, or for crop-specific field survey, using a bulk sampling strategy combined with HTS and targeted diagnostics to indicate both presence and incidence of viruses in a crop. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Plant Virus Surveillance and Metagenomics)

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12 pages, 1175 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Sequencing a Strawberry Germplasm Collection Reveals New Viral Genetic Diversity and the Basis for New RT-qPCR Assays

by Alfredo Diaz-Lara, Kristian A. Stevens, Vicki Klaassen, Min Sook Hwang and Maher Al Rwahnih

Viruses 2021, 13(8), 1442; https://doi.org/10.3390/v13081442 - 24 Jul 2021

Cited by 11 | Viewed by 4092

Abstract

Viruses are considered of major importance in strawberry (Fragaria × ananassa Duchesne) production given their negative impact on plant vigor and growth. Strawberry accessions from the National Clonal Germplasm Repository were screened for viruses using high throughput sequencing (HTS). Analyses of sequence [...] Read more.

Viruses are considered of major importance in strawberry (Fragaria × ananassa Duchesne) production given their negative impact on plant vigor and growth. Strawberry accessions from the National Clonal Germplasm Repository were screened for viruses using high throughput sequencing (HTS). Analyses of sequence information from 45 plants identified multiple variants of 14 known viruses, comprising strawberry mottle virus (SMoV), beet pseudo yellows virus (BPYV), strawberry pallidosis-associated virus (SPaV), tomato ringspot virus (ToRSV), strawberry mild yellow edge virus (SMYEV), strawberry vein banding virus (SVBV), strawberry crinkle virus (SCV), strawberry polerovirus 1 (SPV-1), apple mosaic virus (ApMV), strawberry chlorotic fleck virus (SCFaV), strawberry crinivirus 4 (SCrV-4), strawberry crinivirus 3 (SCrV-3), Fragaria chiloensis latent virus (FClLV) and Fragaria chiloensis cryptic virus (FCCV). Genetic diversity of sequenced virus isolates was investigated via sequence homology analysis, and partial-genome sequences were deposited into GenBank. To confirm the HTS results and expand the detection of strawberry viruses, new reverse transcription quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR) assays were designed for the above-listed viruses. Further in silico and in vitro validation of the new diagnostic assays indicated high efficiency and reliability. Thus, the occurrence of different viruses, including divergent variants, among the strawberries was verified. This is the first viral metagenomic survey in strawberry, additionally, this study describes the design and validation of multiple RT-qPCR assays for strawberry viruses, which represent important detection tools for clean plant programs. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Plant Virus Surveillance and Metagenomics)

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11 pages, 1223 KiB

Open AccessArticle

TASPERT: Target-Specific Reverse Transcript Pools to Improve HTS Plant Virus Diagnostics

by Andres S. Espindola, Daniela Sempertegui-Bayas, Danny F. Bravo-Padilla, Viviana Freire-Zapata, Francisco Ochoa-Corona and Kitty F. Cardwell

Viruses 2021, 13(7), 1223; https://doi.org/10.3390/v13071223 - 24 Jun 2021

Cited by 13 | Viewed by 3488

Abstract

High-throughput sequencing (HTS) is becoming the new norm of diagnostics in plant quarantine settings. HTS can be used to detect, in theory, all pathogens present in any given sample. The technique’s success depends on various factors, including methods for sample management/preparation and suitable [...] Read more.

High-throughput sequencing (HTS) is becoming the new norm of diagnostics in plant quarantine settings. HTS can be used to detect, in theory, all pathogens present in any given sample. The technique’s success depends on various factors, including methods for sample management/preparation and suitable bioinformatic analysis. The Limit of Detection (LoD) of HTS for plant diagnostic tests can be higher than that of PCR, increasing the risk of false negatives in the case of low titer of the target pathogen. Several solutions have been suggested, particularly for RNA viruses, including rRNA depletion of the host, dsRNA, and siRNA extractions, which increase the relative pathogen titer in a metagenomic sample. However, these solutions are costly and time-consuming. Here we present a faster and cost-effective alternative method with lower HTS-LoD similar to or lower than PCR. The technique is called TArget-SPecific Reverse Transcript (TASPERT) pool. It relies on pathogen-specific reverse primers, targeting all RNA viruses of interest, pooled and used in double-stranded cDNA synthesis. These reverse primers enrich the sample for only pathogens of interest. Evidence on how TASPERT is significantly superior to oligodT, random 6-mer, and 20-mer in generating metagenomic libraries containing the pathogen of interest is presented in this proof of concept. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Plant Virus Surveillance and Metagenomics)

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16 pages, 1764 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Discovery of Known and Novel Viruses in Wild and Cultivated Blueberry in Florida through Viral Metagenomic Approaches

by Norsazilawati Saad, James W. Olmstead, Arvind Varsani, Jane E. Polston, Jeffrey B. Jones, Svetlana Y. Folimonova and Philip F. Harmon

Viruses 2021, 13(6), 1165; https://doi.org/10.3390/v13061165 - 18 Jun 2021

Cited by 6 | Viewed by 3486

Abstract

Southern highbush blueberry (interspecific hybrids of Vaccinium corymbosum L.) is cultivated near wild V. corymbosum as well as closely related species in Florida, USA. The expansion of blueberry cultivation into new areas in Florida and deployment of new cultivars containing viruses can potentially [...] Read more.

Southern highbush blueberry (interspecific hybrids of Vaccinium corymbosum L.) is cultivated near wild V. corymbosum as well as closely related species in Florida, USA. The expansion of blueberry cultivation into new areas in Florida and deployment of new cultivars containing viruses can potentially increase the diversity of viruses in wild and cultivated V. corymbosum. In this study, viral diversity in wild and cultivated blueberries (V. corymbosum) is described using a metagenomic approach. RNA viromes from V. corymbosum plants collected from six locations (two cultivated and four wild) in North Central Florida were generated by high throughput sequencing (HTS) and analyzed using a bioinformatic analysis pipeline. De novo assembled contigs obtained from viromes of both commercial and wild sites produced sequences with similarities to plant virus species from a diverse range of families (Amalgaviridae, Caulimoviridae, Endornaviridae, Ophioviridae, Phenuiviridae, and Virgaviridae). In addition, this study has enabled the identification of blueberry latent virus (BlLV) and blueberry mosaic associated ophiovirus (BlMaV) for the first time in Florida, as well as a tentative novel tepovirus (blueberry virus T) (BlVT) in blueberry. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study that compares viral diversity in wild and cultivated blueberry using a metagenomic approach. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Plant Virus Surveillance and Metagenomics)

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18 pages, 2007 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Diversity and Distribution of Viruses Infecting Wild and Domesticated Phaseolus spp. in the Mesoamerican Center of Domestication

by Elizabeth Chiquito-Almanza, Juan Caballero-Pérez, Jorge A. Acosta-Gallegos, Victor Montero-Tavera, Luis Antonio Mariscal-Amaro and José Luis Anaya-López

Viruses 2021, 13(6), 1153; https://doi.org/10.3390/v13061153 - 16 Jun 2021

Cited by 9 | Viewed by 2717

Abstract

Viruses are an important disease source for beans. In order to evaluate the impact of virus disease on Phaseolus biodiversity, we determined the identity and distribution of viruses infecting wild and domesticated Phaseolus spp. in the Mesoamerican Center of Domestication (MCD) and the [...] Read more.

Viruses are an important disease source for beans. In order to evaluate the impact of virus disease on Phaseolus biodiversity, we determined the identity and distribution of viruses infecting wild and domesticated Phaseolus spp. in the Mesoamerican Center of Domestication (MCD) and the western state of Nayarit, Mexico. We used small RNA sequencing and assembly to identify complete or near-complete sequences of forty-seven genomes belonging to nine viral species of five genera, as well as partial sequences of two putative new endornaviruses and five badnavirus- and pararetrovirus-like sequences. The prevalence of viruses in domesticated beans was significantly higher than in wild beans (97% vs. 19%; p < 0.001), and all samples from domesticated beans were positive for at least one virus species. In contrast, no viruses were detected in 80–83% of the samples from wild beans. The Bean common mosaic virus and Bean common mosaic necrosis virus were the most prevalent viruses in wild and domesticated beans. Nevertheless, Cowpea mild mottle virus, transmitted by the whitefly Bemisia tabaci, has the potential to emerge as an important pathogen because it is both seed-borne and a non-persistently transmitted virus. Our results provide insights into the distribution of viruses in cultivated and wild Phaseolus spp. and will be useful for the identification of emerging viruses and the development of strategies for bean viral disease management in a center of diversity. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Plant Virus Surveillance and Metagenomics)

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17 pages, 1702 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Novel Ampeloviruses Infecting Cassava in Central Africa and the South-West Indian Ocean Islands

by Yves Kwibuka, Espoir Bisimwa, Arnaud G. Blouin, Claude Bragard, Thierry Candresse, Chantal Faure, Denis Filloux, Jean-Michel Lett, François Maclot, Armelle Marais, Santatra Ravelomanantsoa, Sara Shakir, Hervé Vanderschuren and Sébastien Massart

Viruses 2021, 13(6), 1030; https://doi.org/10.3390/v13061030 - 29 May 2021

Cited by 7 | Viewed by 4504

Abstract

Cassava is one of the most important staple crops in Africa and its production is seriously damaged by viral diseases. In this study, we identify for the first time and characterize the genome organization of novel ampeloviruses infecting cassava plants in diverse geographical [...] Read more.

Cassava is one of the most important staple crops in Africa and its production is seriously damaged by viral diseases. In this study, we identify for the first time and characterize the genome organization of novel ampeloviruses infecting cassava plants in diverse geographical locations using three high-throughput sequencing protocols [Virion-Associated Nucleotide Acid (VANA), dsRNA and total RNA], and we provide a first analysis of the diversity of these agents and of the evolutionary forces acting on them. Thirteen new Closteroviridae isolates were characterized in field-grown cassava plants from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DR Congo), Madagascar, Mayotte, and Reunion islands. The analysis of the sequences of the corresponding contigs (ranging between 10,417 and 13,752 nucleotides in length) revealed seven open reading frames. The replication-associated polyproteins have three expected functional domains: methyltransferase, helicase, and RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRp). Additional open reading frames code for a small transmembrane protein, a heat-shock protein 70 homolog (HSP70h), a heat shock protein 90 homolog (HSP90h), and a major and a minor coat protein (CP and CPd respectively). Defective genomic variants were also identified in some cassava accessions originating from Madagascar and Reunion. The isolates were found to belong to two species tentatively named Manihot esculenta-associated virus 1 and 2 (MEaV-1 and MEaV-2). Phylogenetic analyses showed that MEaV-1 and MEaV-2 belong to the genus Ampelovirus, in particular to its subgroup II. MEaV-1 was found in all of the countries of study, while MEaV-2 was only detected in Madagascar and Mayotte. Recombination analysis provided evidence of intraspecies recombination occurring between the isolates from Madagascar and Mayotte. No clear association with visual symptoms in the cassava host could be identified. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Plant Virus Surveillance and Metagenomics)

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17 pages, 2333 KiB

Open AccessArticle

High Throughput Sequencing-Aided Survey Reveals Widespread Mixed Infections of Whitefly-Transmitted Viruses in Cucurbits in Georgia, USA

by Saritha Raman Kavalappara, Hayley Milner, Naga Charan Konakalla, Kaelyn Morgan, Alton N. Sparks, Cecilia McGregor, Albert K. Culbreath, William M. Wintermantel and Sudeep Bag

Viruses 2021, 13(6), 988; https://doi.org/10.3390/v13060988 - 26 May 2021

Cited by 27 | Viewed by 5334

Abstract

Viruses transmitted by the sweet potato whitefly (Bemisia tabaci) have been detrimental to the sustainable production of cucurbits in the southeastern USA. Surveys were conducted in the fall of 2019 and 2020 in Georgia, a major cucurbit-producing state of the USA, [...] Read more.

Viruses transmitted by the sweet potato whitefly (Bemisia tabaci) have been detrimental to the sustainable production of cucurbits in the southeastern USA. Surveys were conducted in the fall of 2019 and 2020 in Georgia, a major cucurbit-producing state of the USA, to identify the viruses infecting cucurbits and their distribution. Symptomatic samples were collected and small RNA libraries were prepared and sequenced from three cantaloupes, four cucumbers, and two yellow squash samples. An analysis of the sequences revealed the presence of the criniviruses cucurbit chlorotic yellows virus (CCYV), cucurbit yellow stunting disorder virus (CYSDV), and the begomovirus cucurbit leaf crumple virus (CuLCrV). CuLCrV was detected in 76%, CCYV in 60%, and CYSDV in 43% of the total samples (n = 820) tested. The level of mixed infections was high in all the cucurbits, with most plants tested being infected with at least two of these viruses. Near-complete genome sequences of two criniviruses, CCYV and CYSDV, were assembled from the small RNA sequences. An analysis of the coding regions showed low genetic variability among isolates from different hosts. In phylogenetic analysis, the CCYV isolates from Georgia clustered with Asian isolates, while CYSDV isolates clustered with European and USA isolates. This work enhances our understanding of the distribution of viruses on cucurbits in South Georgia and will be useful to develop strategies for managing the complex of whitefly-transmitted viruses in the region. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Plant Virus Surveillance and Metagenomics)

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17 pages, 3118 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Comparison of the Virome of Quarantined Sugarcane Varieties and the Virome of Grasses Growing near the Quarantine Station

by Jean H. Daugrois, Denis Filloux, Charlotte Julian, Lisa Claude, Romain Ferdinand, Emmanuel Fernandez, Hugo Fontes, Philippe C. Rott and Philippe Roumagnac

Viruses 2021, 13(5), 922; https://doi.org/10.3390/v13050922 - 16 May 2021

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 3238

Abstract

Visacane is a sugarcane quarantine station located in the South of France, far away from sugarcane growing areas. Visacane imports up to 100 sugarcane varieties per year, using safe control and confinement measures of plants and their wastes to prevent any risk of [...] Read more.

Visacane is a sugarcane quarantine station located in the South of France, far away from sugarcane growing areas. Visacane imports up to 100 sugarcane varieties per year, using safe control and confinement measures of plants and their wastes to prevent any risk of pathogen spread outside of the facilities. Viruses hosted by the imported material are either known or unknown to cause disease in cultivated sugarcane. Poaceae viruses occurring in plants surrounding the quarantine glasshouse are currently unknown. These viruses could be considered as a source of new sugarcane infections and potentially cause new sugarcane diseases in cases of confinement barrier failure. The aim of this study was to compare the plant virome inside and outside of the quarantine station to identify potential confinement failures and risks of cross infections. Leaves from quarantined sugarcane varieties and from wild Poaceae growing near the quarantine were collected and processed by a metagenomics approach based on virion-associated nucleic acids extraction and library preparation for Illumina sequencing. While viruses belonging to the same virus genus or family were identified in the sugarcane quarantine and its surroundings, no virus species was detected in both environments. Based on the data obtained in this study, no virus movement between quarantined sugarcane and nearby grassland has occurred so far, and the confinement procedures of Visacane appear to be properly implemented. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Plant Virus Surveillance and Metagenomics)

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17 pages, 2767 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Identification of the Begomoviruses Squash Leaf Curl Virus and Watermelon Chlorotic Stunt Virus in Various Plant Samples in North America

by Rafaela S. Fontenele, Amulya Bhaskara, Ilaria N. Cobb, Lucas C. Majure, Andrew M. Salywon, Jesús A. Avalos-Calleros, Gerardo R. Argüello-Astorga, Kara Schmidlin, Philippe Roumagnac, Simone G. Ribeiro, Simona Kraberger, Darren P. Martin, Pierre Lefeuvre and Arvind Varsani

Viruses 2021, 13(5), 810; https://doi.org/10.3390/v13050810 - 30 Apr 2021

Cited by 9 | Viewed by 5174

Abstract

Geminiviruses are a group of plant-infecting viruses with single-stranded DNA genomes. Within this family, viruses in the genus Begomovirus are known to have a worldwide distribution causing a range of severe diseases in a multitude of dicotyledonous plant species. Begomoviruses are transmitted by [...] Read more.

Geminiviruses are a group of plant-infecting viruses with single-stranded DNA genomes. Within this family, viruses in the genus Begomovirus are known to have a worldwide distribution causing a range of severe diseases in a multitude of dicotyledonous plant species. Begomoviruses are transmitted by the whitefly Bemisia tabaci, and their ssDNA genomes can be either monopartite or bipartite. As part of a viral survey, various plants including those in the families Alliaceae, Amaranthaceae, Apiaceae, Asteraceae, Brassicaceae, Cactaceae, Cucurbitaceae, Lamiaceae, Lauraceae, Malvaceae, Oleaceae and Solanaceae were sampled and screened for begomoviruses using both a high-throughput sequencing and a begomovirus-specific primer pair approach. Based on the sequences derived using these approaches, the full-length genome of various begomoviruses were amplified from plants using abutting primers. Squash leaf curl virus (SLCV) and watermelon chlorotic stunt virus (WCSV) were identified in Cactaceae (n = 25), Solanaceae (n = 7), Cucurbitaceae (n = 2) and Lamiaceae (n = 1) samples. WCSV is an Old World bipartite begomovirus that has only recently been discovered infecting watermelons in the Americas. Our discovery of WCSV in the USA is the first indication that it has reached this country and indicates that this virus might be widespread throughout North America. Phylogenetic analysis suggests WCSV was introduced to the New World twice. The detection of begomoviruses in cactus plants suggests possible spillover events from agricultural areas into native vegetation. Since WCSV and SLCV have previously been found in mixed infections, pseudo-recombination infection experiments were conducted. We demonstrate that WCSV DNA-B is successfully trans-replicated by SLCV DNA-A despite very low degree of similarity between the replication-associated iterative sequences present in their common region, an essential feature for binding of the replication associated protein. This study highlights the importance of viral surveys for the detection of spillover events into native vegetation, but also suggests the need for more surveillance of WCSV in the USA, as this virus is a serious threat to watermelon cultivation in the Middle East. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Plant Virus Surveillance and Metagenomics)

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25 pages, 5417 KiB

Open AccessArticle

New World Cactaceae Plants Harbor Diverse Geminiviruses

by Rafaela S. Fontenele, Andrew M. Salywon, Lucas C. Majure, Ilaria N. Cobb, Amulya Bhaskara, Jesús A. Avalos-Calleros, Gerardo R. Argüello-Astorga, Kara Schmidlin, Anthony Khalifeh, Kendal Smith, Joshua Schreck, Michael C. Lund, Matias Köhler, Martin F. Wojciechowski, Wendy C. Hodgson, Raul Puente-Martinez, Koenraad Van Doorslaer, Safaa Kumari, Kehinde A. Oyeniran, Christian Vernière, Denis Filloux, Philippe Roumagnac, Pierre Lefeuvre, Simone G. Ribeiro, Simona P. Kraberger, Darren P. Martin and Arvind Varsani Show full author list Hide full author list

Viruses 2021, 13(4), 694; https://doi.org/10.3390/v13040694 - 16 Apr 2021

Cited by 9 | Viewed by 6008

Abstract

The family Cactaceae comprises a diverse group of typically succulent plants that are native to the American continent but have been introduced to nearly all other continents, predominantly for ornamental purposes. Despite their economic, cultural, and ecological importance, very little research has been [...] Read more.

The family Cactaceae comprises a diverse group of typically succulent plants that are native to the American continent but have been introduced to nearly all other continents, predominantly for ornamental purposes. Despite their economic, cultural, and ecological importance, very little research has been conducted on the viral community that infects them. We previously identified a highly divergent geminivirus that is the first known to infect cacti. Recent research efforts in non-cultivated and asymptomatic plants have shown that the diversity of this viral family has been under-sampled. As a consequence, little is known about the effects and interactions of geminiviruses in many plants, such as cacti. With the objective to expand knowledge on the diversity of geminiviruses infecting cacti, we used previously acquired high-throughput sequencing results to search for viral sequences using BLASTx against a viral RefSeq protein database. We identified two additional sequences with similarity to geminiviruses, for which we designed abutting primers and recovered full-length genomes. From 42 cacti and five scale insects, we derived 42 complete genome sequences of a novel geminivirus species that we have tentatively named Opuntia virus 2 (OpV2) and 32 genomes of an Opuntia-infecting becurtovirus (which is a new strain of the spinach curly top Arizona virus species). Interspecies recombination analysis of the OpV2 group revealed several recombinant regions, in some cases spanning half of the genome. Phylogenetic analysis demonstrated that OpV2 is a novel geminivirus more closely related to viruses of the genus Curtovirus, which was further supported by the detection of three recombination events between curtoviruses and OpV2. Both OpV2 and Opuntia becurtoviruses were identified in mixed infections, which also included the previously characterized Opuntia virus 1. Viral quantification of the co-infected cactus plants compared with single infections did not show any clear trend in viral dynamics that might be associated with the mixed infections. Using experimental Rhizobium-mediated inoculations, we found that the initial accumulation of OpV2 is facilitated by co-infection with OpV1. This study shows that the diversity of geminiviruses that infect cacti is under-sampled and that cacti harbor diverse geminiviruses. The detection of the Opuntia becurtoviruses suggests spill-over events between viruses of cultivated species and native vegetation. The threat this poses to cacti needs to be further investigated. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Plant Virus Surveillance and Metagenomics)

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24 pages, 3771 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Phylogeography of Potato Virus X Shows the Fingerprints of Its Human Vector

by Segundo Fuentes, Adrian J. Gibbs, Mohammad Hajizadeh, Ana Perez, Ian P. Adams, Cesar E. Fribourg, Jan Kreuze, Adrian Fox, Neil Boonham and Roger A. C. Jones

Viruses 2021, 13(4), 644; https://doi.org/10.3390/v13040644 - 9 Apr 2021

Cited by 14 | Viewed by 4258

Abstract

Potato virus X (PVX) occurs worldwide and causes an important potato disease. Complete PVX genomes were obtained from 326 new isolates from Peru, which is within the potato crop′s main domestication center, 10 from historical PVX isolates from the Andes (Bolivia, Peru) or [...] Read more.

Potato virus X (PVX) occurs worldwide and causes an important potato disease. Complete PVX genomes were obtained from 326 new isolates from Peru, which is within the potato crop′s main domestication center, 10 from historical PVX isolates from the Andes (Bolivia, Peru) or Europe (UK), and three from Africa (Burundi). Concatenated open reading frames (ORFs) from these genomes plus 49 published genomic sequences were analyzed. Only 18 of them were recombinants, 17 of them Peruvian. A phylogeny of the non-recombinant sequences found two major (I, II) and five minor (I-1, I-2, II-1, II-2, II-3) phylogroups, which included 12 statistically supported clusters. Analysis of 488 coat protein (CP) gene sequences, including 128 published previously, gave a completely congruent phylogeny. Among the minor phylogroups, I-2 and II-3 only contained Andean isolates, I-1 and II-2 were of both Andean and other isolates, but all of the three II-1 isolates were European. I-1, I-2, II-1 and II-2 all contained biologically typed isolates. Population genetic and dating analyses indicated that PVX emerged after potato’s domestication 9000 years ago and was transported to Europe after the 15th century. Major clusters A–D probably resulted from expansions that occurred soon after the potato late-blight pandemic of the mid-19th century. Genetic comparisons of the PVX populations of different Peruvian Departments found similarities between those linked by local transport of seed potato tubers for summer rain-watered highland crops, and those linked to winter-irrigated crops in nearby coastal Departments. Comparisons also showed that, although the Andean PVX population was diverse and evolving neutrally, its spread to Europe and then elsewhere involved population expansion. PVX forms a basal Potexvirus genus lineage but its immediate progenitor is unknown. Establishing whether PVX′s entirely Andean phylogroups I-2 and II-3 and its Andean recombinants threaten potato production elsewhere requires future biological studies. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Plant Virus Surveillance and Metagenomics)

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