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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 #367054
Research Project: Characterizing and Detecting Pathogens to Ensure Safe Exchange of Plant Germplasm

Location: National Germplasm Resources Laboratory

Title: Discovery and molecular characterization of a novel trichovirus infecting sweet cherry

Author
item BREWER, ERIC - Former ARS Employee
item CAO, MENGJI - Southwest University
item Gutierrez, Benjamin
item BATEMAN, MARGARITA - Animal And Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS)
item Li, Ruhui

Submitted to: Virus Genes
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 1/31/2020
Publication Date: 2/18/2020
Citation: Brewer, E., Cao, M., Gutierrez, B.L., Bateman, M., Li, R. 2020. Discovery and molecular characterization of a novel trichovirus infecting sweet cherry. Virus Genes. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11262-020-01743-7.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11262-020-01743-7

Interpretive Summary: Stone fruits (Prunus species) are a group of globally important fruit crops. Many viruses and virus-like pathogens infect stone fruits such as cherries, causing various diseases that reduce yields and market value. In this study, a new virus in sweet cherry germplasm undergoing quarantine testing was identified by a sensitive sequencing technology. The complete genomic sequence of the virus was determined. Analyses of the genetic information showed that it is a novel virus in the betaflexivirus group. The virus was tentatively named cherry latent virus 1. The virus was not detected in 175 additional cherry trees tested. This study provides the information necessary to classify the virus, and to help develop detection methods for quarantine and certification programs.

Technical Abstract: Contigs with the highest sequence similarity (73%) to apricot pseudo-chlorotic leaf spot virus (genus Trichovirus, family Betaflexiviridae) were identified by high-throughput sequencing from a symptomless sweet cherry accession. The complete genome sequence of this new virus is 7,460 nucleotides, excluding the 3’poly(A) tail. Its genome organization is very similar to some trichoviruses, with three open reading frames encoding putative replicase, movement protein and coat protein (CP). The virus shares amino acid sequence identities of 60-73% at replicase and 53-76% at CP with other trichoviruses. Phylogenetic analyses group it and other trichoviruses in a cluster. These results support this virus, which is tentatively named as cherry latent virus 1, should be considered as a new member in the genus Trichovirus.