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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 #404688
Research Project: Characterization and Detection of Viruses that Impact the Exchange and Curation of Plant Germplasm

Location: National Germplasm Resources Laboratory

Title: Genomic characterization of a new mitovirus associated with walking iris (Trimezia northiana)

Author
item ALVAREZ-QUINTO, ROBERT - Oregon State University
item Grinstead, Sam
item Jones, Richard
item Mollov, Dimitre

Submitted to: Archives of Virology
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 8/31/2023
Publication Date: 10/16/2023
Citation: Alvarez-Quinto, R., Grinstead, S.C., Jones, R.W., Mollov, D.S. 2023. Genomic characterization of a new mitovirus associated with walking iris (Trimezia northiana). Archives of Virology. 168:273. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00705-023-05901-8.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00705-023-05901-8

Interpretive Summary: Walking iris (Trimezia northiana) is an ornamental plant native to Brazil cultivated for it colorful fragrant flowers. It can be grown in outdoor beds in warmer climates (hardiness zones 9+) and as a potted plant. In 2019 in Maryland, walking iris leaves were observed with virus-like symptoms and subsequently tested for virus by sequencing methods. The results revealed the plants were infected with new virus that belongs to a group of viruses (mitoviruses) which more commonly infect fungi. This research is the first report of a mitovirus infecting a monocot plant. More investigation is needed to determine whether the mitovirus is causing a plant disease.

Technical Abstract: The complete genome sequence of a new member of the family Mitoviridae was obtained from walking iris (Trimezia northiana) by high throughput sequencing (HTS). This is the first mitovirus identified from a monocotyledonous plant. The new mitovirus was tentatively named walking iris mitovirus 1 (WIMV1). The complete genome of WIMV1 is 2,858 nt with coding potential for a single ORF encoding a viral replicase (RdRp). The highest level of amino acid sequence identity was 45% to Beta vulgaris mitovirus 1. In the viral replicase, a conserved protein domain for mitovirus RNA-dependent RNA polymerase and six highly conserved motifs were detected, consistent with other members of the family Mitoviridae. Phylogenetic inferences placed WIMV1 among members of the genus Duamitovirus (family Mitoviridae) in a monophyletic clade with other plant mitoviruses. Sequence comparison and phylogenetic analysis support the classification of WIMV1 as a new member species of the genus Duamitovirus (family Mitoviridae).