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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 #370758
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 new badnavirus infecting camellia

Author
item Li, Ruhui
item ZHENG, LUPING - Fujian Agricultural & Forestry University
item CAO, MENGJI - Southwest University
item WU, LUPING - Nanchang University
item NORMANDY, PHIL - Montgomery Parks
item LIU, HUAWEI - Nanjing University

Submitted to: Archives of Virology
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 5/13/2020
Publication Date: 5/15/2020
Citation: Li, R., Zheng, L., Cao, M., Wu, L., Normandy, P., Liu, H. 2020. First identification and molecular characterization of a new badnavirus infecting camellia. Archives of Virology. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00705-020-04698-0.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00705-020-04698-0

Interpretive Summary: Ornamental camellias (Camellia spp.) are flowing evergreen shrubs or small trees grown in temperate and subtropical landscapes worldwide. Various diseases with viral symptoms have been reported in camellias for many years. Bacilliform shaped virus particles were observed using electron microscopy in diseased camellias 30 years ago. In this study, a DNA virus was identified in a camellia tree with yellow mottling symptoms by a sensitive sequencing technology. The complete genomic sequence of this virus was determined. Analysis of its genetic information revealed a new virus in the badnavirus group, in which the virions are bacilliform shaped. The virus was detected in additional camellia trees from a public garden and from a commercial nursery. The study confirms the earlier report of bacilliform viruses in camellia and provides the information necessary to classify and detect the virus, and to facilitate further study of virus diseases associated with camellias.

Technical Abstract: A new badnavirus was identified from an ornamental camellia tree with yellow mottle symptom. Complete genomic sequence of circular, double-stranded DNA was determined to be 8,203 nucleotides. Its genome organization is typical of badnaviruses, containing three open reading frames (ORF). ORF3 encodes a large polyprotein that contains almost all conserved domains of badnaviruses. The virus shares nucleotide identities of 55-62% with other badnaviruses at RT + RNase H region. Phylogenetic analyses place it in group I of the genus Badnavirus. Therefore, this virus, which is tentatively named as camellia badnavirus 1, should represent a new member of the genus Badnavirus. The new virus was also present in approximately a quarter of assayed camellia trees.