Complete genome analysis of little cherry virus-2 (LChV-2) from sweet cherry in China

Authors: ZHU, DONGZI - Shandong Academy Of Agricultural Sciences; WANG, JIAWEI - Shandong Academy Of Agricultural Sciences; ZONG, XIAOJUAN - Shandong Academy Of Agricultural Sciences; TAN, YUE - Shandong Academy Of Agricultural Sciences; WEI, HAIRONG - Shandong Academy Of Agricultural Sciences; Hammond, Rosemarie; LIU, QINGZHONG - Shandong Academy Of Agricultural Sciences

Submitted to: Archives of Virology
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 8/15/2019
Publication Date: 9/12/2019
Citation: Zhu, D., Wang, J., Zong, X., Tan, Y., Wei, H., Hammond, R., Liu, Q. 2019. Complete genome analysis of little cherry virus-2 (LChV-2) from sweet cherry in China. Archives of Virology. https://doi.org/10.1128/MRA.00676-19.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1128/MRA.00676-19

Interpretive Summary: Little cherry disease has a significant impact on fruit quality of infected sweet cherry trees worldwide, including the United States, resulting in poor flavor, poorly colored and low sugar content fruit. Little cherry virus 1 is one of two viruses associated with little cherry disease. Deep sequencing analysis conducted for virus screening in sweet cherry trees (Prunus avium L. cv. Hongdeng) exhibiting symptoms of small and mosaic leaves in China revealed the presence of a novel strain of little cherry virus-2. This is the first report of the complete sequence of little cherry virus-2 in sweet cherry trees in China; its distribution and impact in Chinese cherry orchards is unknown. The presence of little cherry virus-2 in sweet cherry trees in China has implications for the movement of plant material between continents and the unintentional distribution of virus isolates worldwide. This report will of interest to an international audience of researchers in industry, academia, and government organizations with an interest in plant pathology and control of fruit tree diseases.

Technical Abstract: Little cherry virus-2 (LChV-2), which is associated with little cherry disease (LChD), greatly affects the fruit quality of infected sweet cherry trees. Here, we report the full genome sequence of a Chinese LChV-2 isolate (LChV-2-TA), detected by small RNA deep sequencing and amplified by overlapping RT-PCR. The LChV-2-TA genome is 15,031 nucleotides long with 11 open reading frames, and shows 77.61% nucleotide sequence identity to that of the USA6b isolate. In a phylogenetic analysis of the heat shock protein 70 (HSP70) and coat protein (CP) amino acid sequences from members of the Closteroviridae, LChV-2-TA grouped in a well-supported cluster with members of the genus Velarivirus and showed close relationships with other LChV-2 isolates. This is the first report of the complete nucleotide sequence of an LChV-2 isolate infecting sweet cherry trees in China.