Nucleotide sequence and symptom modulating analysis of a Peanut stunt virus-associated satellite RNA from Poland: high level of sequence identity with the American PSV satellites

Two peanut stunt virus isolates from Poland (PSV-Ag and PSV-P) have been studied. The isolates produce similar systemic symptoms onNicotiana tabacum plants but the symptoms onN. benthamiana, Pisum sativum andDatura stramonium plants are much stronger for the PSV-P isolate. Analysis of the RNA extracted from purified virions by gel electrophoresis and RT-PCR amplification allowed the detection of a satellite RNA in the PSV-P isolate. The nucleotide sequence of this European PSV satellite was determined and found to have a high degree of identity with the sequences of the four American PSV satellites previously studied, which were found to have either no effect or ameliorate the PSV symptoms in tobacco plants (Collmer et al., 1985; Naidu et al., 1991). The possible role of the European PSV satellite in the modulation of viral symptoms has been studied but no effect was observed when the purified satellite was used with the PSV-Ag isolate as helper virus on any of the three hosts cited above.