Skip to main content
ARS Home » Pacific West Area » Corvallis, Oregon » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #397214
Title: Genome characterisation of two complete coding sequences of tomato mild mottle virus from tree tomato and their distribution in Kenya

Author
item KINOGA, MICHAEL - Kenya Agricultural And Livestock Research Organization
item KURIA, PAUL - Kenya Agricultural And Livestock Research Organization
item MIANO, DOUGLAS - University Of Nairobi
item KIAMBI, ROY - Kenya Agricultural And Livestock Research Organization
item Mollov, Dimitre
item Grinstead, Sam
item WASILWA, LUSIKE - Kenya Agricultural And Livestock Research Organization

Submitted to: Journal of Plant Pathology
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 10/30/2022
Publication Date: 11/17/2022
Citation: Kinoga, M., Kuria, P., Miano, D., Kiambi, R., Mollov, D.S., Grinstead, S.C., Wasilwa, L. 2022. Genome characterisation of two complete coding sequences of tomato mild mottle virus from tree tomato and their distribution in Kenya. Journal of Plant Pathology. n/a. https://doi.org/10.1007/s42161-022-01265-1.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s42161-022-01265-1

Interpretive Summary: Tree tomato, also known as tamarillo, is an important cash crop in South America and some African countries. Plant diseases including these caused by viruses reduce the production value. In this paper we surveyed three regions in Kenya for viruses where tree tomato is grown. We identified infections with tomato mild mottle mosaic virus (TomMMV) and potato virus Y among others to be the of a major concern. Description of TomMMV in Kenya is very limited. In this research we determined two complete genomic sequences of Kenyan TomMMV isolates. This information will be used to facilitate development of diagnostic protocols and will help extension agents and other officials to provide growers with better control strategies for managing this newly described for Kenya viral disease.

Technical Abstract: We present here the first complete coding sequence of tomato mild mottle virus (TMMoV) infecting tree tomato in Kenya. A survey was conducted in three tree tomato-growing regions: Nairobi, Eastern, and Rift Valley. Leaf samples displaying classical symptoms of virus infection were collected and analysed using high throughput RNA sequencing, which revealed the presence of TMMoV in the Eastern and the Rift Valley regions. Two coding sequences, MW537584 and MW537585 were assembled, and the HTS data were verified using RT-PCR and Sanger sequencing. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that both of these Kenyan isolates were highly similar to the Ethiopian isolate (NC038920) with 97 and 96% nucleotide alignment homology, respectively. Samples from two farms that tested positive for TMMoV, also tested positive for potato virus Y (PVY), making it difficult to associate the symptoms observed with TMMoV, PVY, or a co-infection of both.