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ARS Home » Northeast Area » Beltsville, Maryland (BARC) » Beltsville Agricultural Research Center » National Germplasm Resources Laboratory » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #333028
Title: Characterization and complete genome sequence of a previously uncharacterized panicovirus from Bermuda grass detected by high throughput sequencing

Author
item TAHIR, MUHAMMAD - National Institute Of Biotechnology And Genetic Engineering (NIBGE)
item LOCKHART, BEN - University Of Minnesota
item Grinstead, Sam
item Mollov, Dimitre

Submitted to: Archives of Virology
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 11/16/2016
Publication Date: 3/3/2017
Citation: Tahir, M., Lockhart, B., Grinstead, S.C., Mollov, D.S. 2017. Characterization and complete genome sequence of a previously uncharacterized panicovirus from Bermuda grass detected by high throughput sequencing. Archives of Virology. 162(4):1099-1102.

Interpretive Summary: Bermuda grass (Cynodon dactylon L.) is grown in tropical and subtropical areas for golf greens, athletic fields, and landscapes. In this report a new virus, Bermuda grass asymptomatic virus (BGAV), was characterized and its genomic structure was described. It belongs to a family consisting of small spherical viruses that contain RNA called Tombusviridae. Sequencing the BGAV genome enables developing reliable detection methods that can be utilized to test Bermuda grass genetic material. This information will be useful to plant diagnosticians, turf breeders, and the turf and landscape industries.

Technical Abstract: Bermuda grass samples were examined by transmission electron microscopy and 28-30 nm spherical virus particles were observed. Total RNA from these plants was subjected to high throughput sequencing (HTS). The nearly full genome sequence of a previously uncharacterized Panicovirus was identified from one HTS scaffold. RT-PCR and Sanger sequencing was used to confirm the HTS results and complete the nucleotide sequence of 4404 nt. This virus was provisionally named Bermuda grass asymptomatic virus (BGAV). Its predicted open reading frames follow the typical arrangement of the genus Panicovirus. Based on sequence comparisons and phylogenetic analyses BGAV differs from other viruses and therefore it is a new member of the genus Panicovirus, family Tombusviridae.