Evidence from nucleic acid hybridization tests for geminivirus infection of ornamental crotons in India

Reduced growth of plants and excessive generalised and spotty yellowing of leaves occurred in ornamental crotons that were infected with a geminivirus, which was detected by spot hybridization tests using a cloned probe derived from DNA-A of acalypha yellow mosaic geminivirus. The croton virus was transmitted by the whitefly,Bemisia tabaci, toNicotiana tabacum andAcalypha indica, in which it caused leaf curl and yellow mosaic, respectively, but it was not transmitted to five other species. Infected crotons may therefore serve as reservoirs of a geminivirus that is able to infect a crop species.     

Variations and taxonomic status of begomoviruses causing severe epidemics of cassava mosaic disease in Kenya,Uganda, and Democratic Republic of the Congo

The molecular variability in the DNA-A of cassava-begomoviruses, East African cassava mosaic virus (EACMV), East African cassava mosaic virus – Uganda variant (EACMV-UG), African cassava mosaic virus (ACMV), and East African cassava mosaic Zanzibar virus (EACMZV) in Kenya, Uganda, and Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) was investigated. Most samples from western Kenya, Uganda, and eastern DRC contained EACMV-UG. Fewer than half of the samples had a mixed infection of ACMV and EACMV-UG, and a small percentage had only ACMV infections. EACMV and EACMZV were the only begomoviruses detected in samples from the Kenyan coast. The coat protein gene nucleotide (nt) and the deduced amino acid sequence analyses revealed a high degree of sequence identity within each virus type and that EACMV-UG was most related to ACMV. However, analysis of the retrieved complete DNA-A (2781–2801nt) sequences of selected virus types revealed that EACMV-UG DNA-A share more than 90% identity with EACMV and less than 80% with ACMV, confirming that the virus is a strain of EACMV.     

Identification of a defective molecule derived from DNA-A of the bipartite begomovirus of East African cassava mosaic virus

Geminivirus defective interfering DNAs arise spontaneously in mechanically inoculated test plants, and have previously been found with DNA-B of the bipartite cassava mosaic geminiviruses, but not DNA-A. Reported here for the first time is the cloning and characterization of a naturally occurring truncated form of cassava mosaic geminivirus DNA-A, which at 1525 nt is around half the expected full size. Sequence analysis has shown it to be a defective (df) form of East African cassava mosaic virus (EACMV) DNA-A that has retained its cis elements essential for replication by the helper virus, and it has been termed df DNA-A 15. Phylogenetic comparisons placed the df DNA-A 15 molecule close to mild and severe isolates of EACMV-UG2. Biolistic inoculation of Nicotiana benthamiana with infectious df DNA-A 15 clone and East African cassava mosaic Cameroon virus (EACMCV) resulted in symptom amelioration as compared with EACMCV singly inoculated plants, and there was an accumulation of df DNA-A 15 in systemically infected leaves. In addition, the level of EACMV DNA-B accumulation was reduced in the coinoculated plants compared with those inoculated with EACMCV alone. PCR and sequence analysis confirmed the helper virus as EACMV.     

Viruses and virus-like pathogens transmitted by zoosporic fungi1

The viruses and virus-like pathogens transmitted by zoosporic fungi are reviewed. The nine furoviruses (and possible members of the group), with labile rod-shaped particles, have nearly all been shown to be transmitted by plasmodiophoromycete vectors. As they have been reviewed extensively elsewhere, they are covered only briefly; important examples are beet necrotic yellow vein furovirus and potato mop-top furovirus. Five viruses with filamentous particles, tentatively recognized as poty viruses, are transmitted by Polymyxa graminis. Within this group, wheat yellow mosaic virus should be considered to include wheat spindle streak mosaic virus, while the M and NM forms of barley yellow mosaic virus, the best known members of the group, should probably be regarded as distinct viruses. Chytrids (especially Olpidium brassicae) transmit a variety of viruses in different groups (e.g. tobacco necrosis necrovirus, lettuce big-vein virus, melon necrotic spot carmovirus, red clover necrotic mosaic dianthovirus). Finally, several diseases caused by uncharacterized pathogens appear to be transmitted by O. brassicae: freesia leaf necrosis, lettuce ring necrosis, pepper yellow vein, watercress chlorotic leaf spot.     

Partial characterization of a bipartite begomovirus infecting yellow passion flower in Brazil

During the spring of 2001, approximately 10 000 yellow passion flower plants, from two orchards in the county of Livramento de Nossa Senhora, Bahia State, Brazil, exhibited intense yellow mosaic symptoms and drastic reduction of the leaf lamina and plant development. A large population of whiteflies ( Bemisia tabaci ) was also found colonizing the plants. All field samples collected tested positive for Passion fruit woodiness virus in DAS-ELISA. Five out of 20 passion flower plants inoculated with adult whiteflies collected from diseased plants in the field developed symptoms 20–30 days after inoculation. Two of these plants gave a positive reaction in TAS-ELISA using antiserum against a begomovirus. Degenerated PCR primers amplified viral DNA fragments from the DNA-A and DNA-B components of a begomovirus infecting these plants. The fragment corresponding to the core region of the coat protein (DNA-A) was cloned and sequenced. A phylogenetic analysis placed this begomovirus isolated from passion flower in the same clade of the New World begomoviruses as several other species from Brazil. Based on the symptoms induced by this virus alone, the disease was tentatively named passion flower little leaf mosaic.     

发生在我国的小麦黄花叶病毒病

本文对山东荣成流行的一种小麦病毒病进行了鉴定。提纯的病毒颗粒为长线状,13×100—300nm及13×350—650nm。汁液接种感染小麦,但不感染烟草、苋色藜等植物。病土、病根以及含有禾谷类多粘菌(POlymyxa graminis)游动孢子的浸液可以传毒于小麦、大麦及黑麦。此病毒与大麦黄花叶病毒(BYMV)、小麦梭条花叶病毒(WSSMV)有血清学关系,与小麦土传花叶病毒(WSBMV)无血清学关系。病叶表皮细胞中有无定形内含体。超薄切片可见风轮状内含体。实验结果表明,荣城地区发生的这种小麦病毒病是小麦黄花叶病毒所致。     

Molecular and biological characterization of Macroptilium yellow mosaic virus from Jamaica

The molecular and biological characterization of a begomovirus infecting the common weed Macroptilium lathyroides from Jamaica are reported. The virus showed 92% sequence identity to an isolate of Macroptilium yellow mosaic virus (MaYMV) from Cuba, but was distinct from the two other begomoviruses isolated from M. lathyroides , namely Macroptilium yellow mosaic Florida virus (80% identity) and Macroptilium mosaic Puerto Rico virus (68% identity). Hence, the Jamaican begomovirus was considered an isolate of MaYMV and called Macroptilium yellow mosaic virus -[Jamaica] (MaYMV-[JM]). In infectivity studies using cloned DNA-A and DNA-B genomic components, MaYMV-[JM] infected red kidney bean ( Phaseolus vulgaris ) and produced mild symptoms in Scotch Bonnet pepper ( Capsicum chinense ), but did not infect cabbage ( Brassica oleracea ). This information has implications for the development of strategies to control begomovirus diseases in Jamaica and elsewhere.     

Tomato dwarf leaf curl virus, a new bipartite geminivirus associated with tomatoes and peppers in Jamaica and mixed infection with tomato yellow leaf curl virus

Genomic characterization using nonradioactive probes, polymerase chain reaction with degenerate primers for whitefly transmitted geminiviruses and nucleotide sequencing were used to describe a new bipartite geminivirus, associated with dwarfing and leaf curling of tomatoes and peppers in Jamaica. Partial DNA-A and DNA-B clones were obtained. DNA sequence analysis showed that tomato and pepper samples have a similar geminivirus associated with them. Nucleotide sequence identity > 92% between the common regions of DNA-A and DNA-B confirmed the bipartite nature of the Jamaican geminivirus isolates. Nucleotide sequence comparisons of DNA-A and DNA-B with those of geminiviruses representing the major phylogenetic groups of Western Hemisphere geminiviruses showed the greatest similarity to potato yellow mosaic virus and members of the Abutilon mosaic virus cluster of geminiviruses. This new virus is given the name tomato dwarf leaf curl virus (TDLCV) because of the dwarfing and leaf curling symptoms associated with infected tomato plants. Polymerase chain reaction and Southern hybridization showed mixed infections of TDLCV with tomato yellow leaf curl virus from Israel in 16% of the field samples of tomatoes and peppers.     

Molecular identification of an Ageratum enation virus isolate associated with mosaic disease of pointed gourd (Trichosanthes dioica) in India

A severe mosaic disease of pointed gourd (Trichosanthes dioica Roxb.) was observed with significant disease incidence in Gopalganj, India, during 2008. Begomovirus was detected from symptomatic leaf samples by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) using coat protein gene-specific primers of a well characterized begomovirus which revealed positive amplification of expected size ~800 bp DNA band. To confirm begomovirus association, the complete DNA-A was amplified using three sets of begomovirus DNA-A primers. The amplicons were cloned, sequenced, and sequence of the complete DNA-A (2757 nt) was determined by combining the sequence data of all amplicons (Accession no. GQ268327). The sequence data showed 99–93% sequence identities and close phylogenetic relationships with isolates of Ageratum enation virus (AgEV). The begomovirus associated with mosaic disease of T. dioica was identified as an isolate of Ageratum enation virus, which is a new record from India.     

Complete genome and pathogenicity of Tomato yellow leaf distortion virus, a bipartite begomovirus infecting tomato in Cuba

Tomato plants showing symptoms of yellow mottle and leaf distortion, first observed in eastern Cuba in 2007, have been shown to be associated with the presence of a novel bipartite begomovirus (genus Begomovirus, family Geminiviridae) species, Tomato yellow leaf distortion virus (ToYLDV), for which the DNA-A has already been sequenced. Here, we present the completion of ToYLDV genome characterization by cloning and sequencing the DNA-B component. In addition, we constructed infectious clones that were used to inoculate tomato, soybean, Nicotiana tabacum and N. benthamiana plants by a biolistic procedure. Cloned ToYLDV reproduced the symptoms observed in tomato in the field, thus confirming that this begomovirus is the causal agent of the disease present in Cuba.     

Fungally-transmitted viruses of cereals in the UK1

The distribution of two UK strains of barley yellow mosaic virus has been studied and both have been transmitted experimentally by Polymyxa graminis. cDNA hybridization studies support the suggestion that the strains should be considered distinct viruses. Oat mosaic and oat golden stripe (OGSV) viruses also occur in the UK. OGSV is a furovirus related to wheat soil-borne mosaic furovirus: it has particles of two lengths and a bipartite genome.     

Production of discernible disease phenotypes in Canna by five plant viruses belonging to the genera Potyvirus,Cucumovirus and Badnavirus

Cannas are tropical and subtropical flowering perennial plants. The genus contains many species but most commercially grown cultivars are interspecific hybrids selected for their attractive foliage and flowers. Canna production is so lucrative that there are farmers and nurseries dedicated solely to its production. The specific issue that the canna industry faces is virus diseases. In this study, rhizomes of 24 canna cultivars were gathered and diagnostics conducted to detect Bean yellow mosaic virus (BYMV, Potyvirus), Canna yellow mottle virus (CaYMV, Badnavirus), Canna yellow streak virus (CaYSV, Potyvirus), Cucumber mosaic virus (CMV, Cucumovirus) and Tomato aspermy virus (TAV, Cucumovirus). Visual assessment of disease symptoms and diagnostic tests were carried out to identify the prevalent diseases and describe the symptoms that are associated with virus infection. BYMV, CaYMV and CaYSV caused severe mosaic and necrosis either in the leaf lamina or veins of infected leaves. Potyvirus infection suppressed red colouration in the foliage of some varieties. CaYMV and CaYSV often appeared in the same plant, suggesting they might represent a viral complex. CMV and TAV were rarely seen in these populations. Interestingly, CaYMV but not CaYSV could be mechanically inoculated to Phaseolus vulgaris plants.     

Pumpkin yellow vein mosaic disease is caused by two distinct begomoviruses: complete viral sequences and comparative transmission by an indigenous Bemisia tabaci and the introduced B-biotype

Pumpkin yellow vein mosaic disease (PYVMD) causes significant damage to pumpkin production throughout India. A begomovirus causing PYVMD in South India was characterized recently but the nature of virus causing the disease in North India was not known. Samples of PYVMD were obtained from North India and two putative begomoviruses were PCR‐amplified and sequenced. Comparison of complete DNA‐A sequences indicated that PYVMD in North and South India were caused by two distinct begomoviruses and shared only approximately 88% DNA‐A nucleotide identity. The South Indian isolate was most closely related to Squash leaf curl China virus between 91 and 96% identities, and the two North Indian isolates to Tomato leaf curl New Delhi virus between 94 and 96% identities. The South Indian isolate was previously shown to be transmitted by the indigenous biotype of Bemisia tabaci, however, the situation has since changed with the introduction of the B‐biotype to South India in 1999. Comparative transmission experiments between the indigenous biotype v/s the introduced B‐biotype for the time required for virus acquisition (30 min v/s 15 min), inoculation (15 min v/s 10 min) and incubation (30 min v/s 4 h) have indicated that the B‐biotype transmits the virus quickly and more efficiently than the indigenous biotype. An epidemic of PYVMD was recorded for the first time in South India in 2004 with disease incidences of up to 100% and significant yield losses. This may be due to a combination of several factors including the large numbers of B‐biotype populations, the ability of the B‐biotype to transmit the virus efficiently and the cultivation of susceptible varieties. These possibilities and the threat to pumpkin cultivation associated with the spread of the B‐biotype in India are discussed.     

Molecular Characterization of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Bean yellow mosaic virus </Emphasis>from Vegetatively Propagated Dwarf <Emphasis Type="Italic">Gentiana </Emphasis>Plants

The causative virus (isolate No. 4) of gentian (Gentiana spp.) mosaic, which had been identified previously as Clover yellow vein virus (C1YVV) on the basis of host range and serological reactions, was re-identified as Bean yellow mosaic virus (BYMV) on the basis of the nucleotide sequences of the gene for the coat protein (CP) and the 3′-noncoding region, as well as the predicted amino acid sequence of CP. Received 16 April 2002/ Accepted in revised form 19 June 2002     

Infectivity analysis of a soybean isolate of Mungbean yellow mosaic India virus by agroinoculation

Yellow mosaic disease (YMD) of legumes endemic to South Asia are caused by begomoviruses transmitted by whiteflies. Based on molecular characterization, two distinct viruses – Mungbean yellow mosaic India virus (MYMIV) and Mungbean yellow mosaic virus (MYMV) – were found previously to be the etiological agents of YMD in legumes. Here, host range studies with a soybean isolate of MYMIV (MYMIV-[Sb]) were carried out by both whitefly transmission and agroinoculation. MYMIV-[Sb] was similar to a cowpea isolate of MYMIV (MYMIV-[Cp]) in its ability to infect cowpea, thus differing from blackgram (MYMIV) and mungbean (MYMIV-[Mg]) isolates, which do not infect cowpea. Genomic analysis of DNA A and DNA B components of these MYMIV isolates show characteristic differences in complete DNA B nucleotide sequence correlating with host range differences.     

Diversity of European begomoviruses: identification of a new disease complex*

The diversity of whitefly‐transmitted begomoviruses in Europe is low, most being exotic, introduced species. The only agriculturally important viruses are two species causing tomato yellow leaf curl. These viruses are believed to have originated in the Middle East but have since spread right across the Mediterranean region. Two ornamentals (Abutilon and Lonicera japonica) were introduced into Europe from the New World and the Far East, respectively, for the striking symptoms induced by the viruses which infect them. The virus infecting honeysuckle (Honeysuckle yellow vein mosaic virus) has been shown to be part of newly identified cluster of begomoviruses which require an additional component, a satellite molecule termed DNA β, to induce symptoms in their host plants. A further begomovirus, Ipomoea yellow vein virus, which infects the weed Ipomoea indica, is present in the Mediterranean region. The precise origin and relationship of this virus to other begomoviruses is unclear.     

复合侵染水茄的两种菜豆金色花叶病毒属病毒基因组结构特征分析

为明确水茄Solanum torvum植株叶片邹缩、褪绿是否由菜豆金色花叶病毒属病毒侵染引起,从云南省西双版纳傣族自治州田间采集具有疑似感染症状的水茄植株叶片样品,应用菜豆金色花叶病毒属病毒简并引物和特异性引物进行PCR扩增、克隆和测序,通过生物信息软件分析比较其核苷酸序列特征,并对其进行系统发育分析。结果显示,从采集的疑似病叶中共克隆获得了5条菜豆金色花叶病毒属病毒DNA-A全序列和3条DNA-B全序列,经全序列分析发现,侵染水茄的2种菜豆金色花叶病毒属病毒分离物分别属于中国南瓜曲叶病毒(squash leaf curl China virus,SLCCNV)和野茼蒿黄脉病毒(Crassocephalum yellow vein virus,CraYVV)。SLCCNV水茄分离物的基因组具有典型的菜豆金色花叶病毒属病毒双组分结构特征,与来自泰国的SLCCNV分离物(AB330078)亲缘关系最近,相似性最高达到99.0%;CraYVV水茄分离物的基因组具有典型的菜豆金色花叶病毒属病毒单组分结构特征,与来自云南省景洪市的CraYVV分离物(EF165536)亲缘关系最近,相似性最高达到97.6%。表明水茄是这2种菜豆金色花叶病毒属病毒的新寄主,并首次发现双组分和单组分菜豆金色花叶病毒属病毒可复合侵染水茄。     

Mungbean yellow mosaic virus (MYMV): a threat to green gram (Vigna radiata) production in Asia

Mungbean yellow mosaic virus (MYMV) disease is one of the most vicious diseases of green gram and has been renowned in India for more than five decades. It is caused by a group of geminiviruses belonging to the genus, begomovirus of the family, Geminiviridae. They are transmitted through whitefly in a persistent manner. The economic losses due to this virus account up to 85% in green gram which is spreading faster towards newer areas. The escalating economic importance of MYMV has resulted in the call for accurate detection and identification procedures that inspire rigorous research efforts focussing on the biology, diversity and epidemiology of the virus, so that viable management strategies could be designed. Breeding for resistance or tolerance appears to be the best approach to control this disease. However, the commercially offered genotypes are only partially resistant. Therefore, the hunt for newer sources of disease resistance needs to be intensified. This review updates all the accessible information on MYMV and outlines the areas in which advance research is indispensable.     

Biological and Molecular Properties of a Begomovirus from Dicliptera sexangularis

ABSTRACT Sixangle foldwing, Dicliptera sexangularis (Acanthaceae), showing severe yellow mottle and leaf distortion symptoms was collected from the shoreline of Calusa Island (Lee County, FL). The putative virus was transmitted from infected D. sexangularis to healthy seedlings by mechanical, whitefly (Bemisia tabaci biotype B), and graft-inoculations. Different forms of geminivirus-like DNAs were detected in total DNA extracted from infected plants by Southern blot hybridization analyses using DNA-A and -B of Bean golden mosaic virus (BGMV) from Guatemala as probes. Preliminary polymerase chain reaction experiments and sequence comparisons indicated that the virus was a distinct bipartite begomovirus. The virus was designated Dicliptera yellow mottle virus (DiYMV). Replicative dsDNAs of DiYMV were extracted, digested with selected restriction enzymes, and cloned into a plasmid vector. Both DNA-A and -B were sequenced and compared with those of other begomoviruses. Phylogenetic analyses using AV1, AC1, and BV1 nucleotide sequences indicated that DiYMV has a close relationship with the New World begomoviruses, especially those distributed in the nearby geographic areas of the Florida coast and the Caribbean Basin. However, different percent nucleotide sequence identities and phylogenetic relationships were detected when different open reading frames (ORFs) of DiYMV were compared with their counterparts from begomoviruses from the Caribbean Basin. Based on phylogenetic analyses of the AC1 and BV1 ORFs, DiYMV was closely related to BGMV type II isolates, whereas sequence comparisons of the common region and the AC4-derived amino acid sequences indicated its close relationship with Potato yellow mosaic virus from Venezuela.