Association of an atypical alphasatellite with a bipartite New World begomovirus

The complete sequence of a watermelon-infecting Venezuelan begomovirus was obtained; it corresponds to that of the partially characterized melon chlorotic mosaic virus (MeCMV). MeCMV is a typical bipartite New World begomovirus. A putative alphasatellite, MeCMVa1, was found associated with MeCMV. This is the first satellite detected in the New World, and the first natural association of an alphasatellite with a bipartite begomovirus. The sequence of MeCMVa1 diverged highly from those of other alphasatellites, except for two atypical ones, which, like MeCMVa1, had a putative ORF2 embedded in the Rep-encoding ORF1. These findings raise new questions about the origin and evolution of subviral agents associated with begomoviruses.     

Complete genome sequences of two begomoviruses infecting weeds in Venezuela

The complete sequences of isolates of two new bipartite begomoviruses (genus Begomovirus, family Geminiviridae) found infecting weeds in Venezuela are provided. The names proposed for these new begomoviruses are “Datura leaf distortion virus” (DLDV), isolated from a Datura stramonium L. (family Solanaceae) plant, and “Dalechampia chlorotic mosaic virus” (DCMV), isolated from infected Dalechampia sp. (family Euphorbiaceae) and Boerhavia diffusa L. (family Nyctaginaceae) plants. Phylogenetic analysis showed that these new begomoviruses segregated in two distinct clades of New World begomoviruses. To our knowledge, this is the first record of a begomovirus infecting Dalechampia sp. plants. Also, this is the first report of a begomovirus infecting Boerhavia spp. and Datura spp. in Venezuela.     

Complete genome sequence of Jacquemontia yellow mosaic virus,a novel begomovirus from Venezuela related to other New World bipartite begomoviruses infecting Convolvulaceae

The complete genome of a bipartite begomovirus (genus Begomovirus, family Geminiviridae) infecting Jacquemontia sp. (Convolvulaceae) in Venezuela has been cloned and sequenced. Sequence comparison and phylogenetic analysis have shown that it represents an isolate of a novel species with closest relatives being two New World bipartite begomoviruses that infect Convolvulaceae, Jacquemontia mosaic Yucatan virus and Merremia mosaic virus. The DNA-As of these begomoviruses, however, share only 77.0-78.4 % nucleotide sequence identity with the DNA-A of the isolate described here, for which a recombinant origin is suggested. Based on the symptoms observed in the field, the name Jacquemontia yellow mosaic virus (JacYMV) is proposed for this novel bipartite begomovirus.     

Tomato chlorotic leaf distortion virus,a new bipartite begomovirus infecting <Emphasis Type="Italic">Solanum lycopersicum</Emphasis> and <Emphasis Type="Italic">Capsicum chinense</Emphasis> in Venezuela

Virus isolate T217L was obtained from a diseased tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) plant showing leaf deformation and chlorotic mottle symptoms near Maracaibo in the state of Zulia, Venezuela. Full-length DNA-A and DNA-B molecules of T217L were cloned and sequenced. The genome organization of T217L was identical to the bipartite genomes of other begomoviruses described from the Americas. Characteristic disease symptoms were reproduced in S. lycopersicum and Capsicum annum plants inoculated using the cloned viral DNA-A and DNA-B components, confirming disease aetiology. A sequence analysis of DNA-A showed that the T217L isolate has the highest sequence identity (84%) with sida yellow mosaic Yucatan virus (SiYMYuV), sida golden mosaic Honduras virus (SiGMHV) and bean dwarf mosaic virus (BDMV) isolates. This is less than the 89% identity in the DNA-A component that has been defined as the threshold value for the demarcation of species in the genus Begomovirus. The molecular data show that isolate T217L belongs to a novel tentative begomovirus species, for which the name tomato chlorotic leaf distortion virus is proposed. TCLDV was also detected in symptomatic C. chinense plants growing near the T217L-infected plant.     

Molecular and biological characterization of a new Tomato mild yellow leaf curl Aragua virus strain producing severe symptoms in tomato

Virus Genes - Tomato mild yellow leaf curl Aragua virus (ToMYLCV) is a begomovirus first reported infecting tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) and milkweed (Euphorbia heterophylla) in Venezuela. In this...     

Complete genome sequences of two novel begomoviruses infecting common bean in Venezuela

The complete genome sequences of isolates of two new bipartite begomoviruses (genus Begomovirus, family Geminiviridae) found infecting common bean in Venezuela are provided. The names proposed for each of these viruses are “bean yellow chlorosis virus” (BYCV) and “bean white chlorosis mosaic virus” (BWCMV). Phylogenetic analysis showed that they segregated in two distinct clades of New World begomoviruses. This is the first report of begomoviruses infecting common bean in Venezuela.