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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 #356601
Research Project: Characterizing and Detecting Pathogens to Ensure Safe Exchange of Plant Germplasm

Location: National Germplasm Resources Laboratory

Title: First report of Alternanthera mosaic virus infecting Epiphyllum spp

Author
item WU, LIPING - Nanchang University
item ZHENG, LUPING - Fujian Agricultural & Forestry University
item Li, Ruhui

Submitted to: Plant Disease
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 10/26/2018
Publication Date: 2/11/2019
Citation: Wu, L., Zheng, L., Li, R. 2019. First report of Alternanthera mosaic virus infecting Epiphyllum spp. Archives of Virology. https://doi.org/10.1094/PDIS-09-18-1529-PDN.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1094/PDIS-09-18-1529-PDN

Interpretive Summary: Orchid cactus (Epiphyllum spp.) is a group of epiphytic plants in the cactus family that are widely grown as flowering ornamentals. In this study, Alternantera mosaic virus (AltMV) was identified in a hybrid orchid cactus plant. The complete genomic sequence of the virus was determined. Analyses of the genetic information indicates this virus is a novel strain of AltMV. The virus was also detected in four additional hybrid orchid cacti. This is the first report of the AltMV infection in Epiphyllum spp. AltMV infects many ornamentals, especially potted plants, and is transmitted by casual contact and greenhouse/garden tools. The infected cactus may serve as a reservoir from which AltMV may spread to other hosts. This study provides new information that can help manage this virus in ornamental crops.

Technical Abstract: Alternantera mosaic virus (AltMV) was identified from orchid cactus (Epiphyllum spp.) hybrid without disease symptoms by high-throughput sequencing. The complete genomic sequence of 6,633 nucleotides of the virus was determined, and sequence analysis showed that this isolate shared nucleotide sequence identities of 94-95% with four known isolates of AltMV infecting ornamentals and weed. The virus was graft transmitted to a hybrid free of ten cactus viruses. AltMV was also detected from four more hybrids of the orchid cactus, confirming the virus infection of the ornamental. To our knowledge, this is the first report of AltMV in the orchid cactus.