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ARS Home » Midwest Area » West Lafayette, Indiana » Crop Production and Pest Control Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #357629
Research Project: Genetic Enhancement of Seed Quality and Plant Health Traits, and Designing Soybeans with Improved Functionality

Location: Crop Production and Pest Control Research

Title: PiRV-2, a novel RNA virus from Phytophthora infestans, does not belong to any known virus groups

Author
item Cai, Guohong
item MYERS, KEVIN - Cornell University
item FRY, WILLIAM - Cornell University
item HILLMAN, BRADLEY - Rutgers University

Submitted to: Archives of Virology
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 9/24/2018
Publication Date: 10/20/2018
Citation: Cai, G., Myers, K., Fry, W.E., Hillman, B.I. 2018. PiRV-2, a novel RNA virus from Phytophthora infestans, does not belong to any known virus groups. Archives of Virology. 164: 567-572. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00705-018-4050-0.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00705-018-4050-0

Interpretive Summary: Phytophthora infestans infects potato and tomato and causes late blight. It is a serious threat to today's potato and tomato production, causing billions of dollars in yield loss and control cost. In this study, we sequenced and analyzed a novel virus, PiRV-2, in P. infestans. It is a novel RNA virus with no significant similarity to any other known viruses. We are currently examining its role in the late bight disease cycle. This information will help us better understand this notorious plant disease and lay the foundation for better disease management.

Technical Abstract: Phytophthora infestans is the causal agent of potato and tomato late blight. In this study, we obtained the complete genome sequence of a novel RNA virus from this plant pathogen, tentatively named Phytophthora infestans RNA virus 2 (PiRV-2). The PiRV-2 genome is 11,170 nt in length and lacks a polyA tail. It contains a single large open reading frame (ORF) with short 5’- and 3’- untranslated regions. The ORF is predicted to encode a polyprotein of 3710 aa (calculated molecular weight 410.94 kDa). This virus lacks significant similarity to any other known viruses, even in the conserved RNA-dependent RNA polymerase region. Phylogenetic analysis demonstrated that it did not cluster with any known virus groups. We conclude that PiRV-2 belongs to a new virus family yet to be described. This virus was found to be faithfully transmitted through asexual reproduction.