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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 #367025
Research Project: Characterizing and Detecting Pathogens to Ensure Safe Exchange of Plant Germplasm

Location: National Germplasm Resources Laboratory

Title: First identification and molecular characterization of a novel cavemovirus infecting Epiphyllum spp.

Author
item ZHENG, LUPING - Fujian Agricultural & Forestry University
item CAO, MENGJI - Southwest University
item WU, LUPING - Nanchang University
item LIU, HUAWEI - Nanjing Agricultural University
item CHEN, MADELEINE - Orise Fellow
item Li, Ruhui

Submitted to: Archives of Virology
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 5/7/2020
Publication Date: 6/11/2020
Citation: Zheng, L., Cao, M., Wu, L., Liu, H., Chen, M., Li, R. 2020. First identification and molecular characterization of a novel cavemovirus infecting Epiphyllum spp.. Archives of Virology. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00705-020-04688-2.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00705-020-04688-2

Interpretive Summary: Plants in the cactus family (Cactaceae) are important ornamental, food and medicinal plants. Many viruses infect cactus plants, causing various diseases. In this study, a new virus was identified in an orchid cactus using a sensitive sequencing technique. The complete genomic sequence of the virus was determined. Analyses of the genetic information showed that it is a new virus in the caulimovirus group. The virus was tentatively named Epiphyllum virus-4 (EpV-4). The virus can be transferred to healthy orchid plants by grafting. It was also detected in 9 of 30 (30%) commercially available orchid cactus hybrids that were tested. This research provides the information necessary to classify the virus, and to help develop detection methods for it.

Technical Abstract: A new virus with sequence similarities to two members of the genus Cavemovirus in the family Caulimoviridae was identified by high-throughput sequencing in an Epiphyllum hybrid. The complete genome of the virus, tentatively named “Epiphyllum virus 4” (EpV-4), was determined to be 7,296 nucleotides long. Its circular genome organization is typical of cavemoviruses, containing 4 open reading frames. EpV-4 and the two known cavemoviruses share sequence identities of 67-69% at whole genome and 69-73% at replicase protein sequences. Phylogenetic analyses placed them in a distinct cluster. The virus was transmitted by grafting. EpV-4 should be considered a new species of the genus Cavemovirus.