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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 #408190
Research Project: Characterization and Detection of Viruses that Impact the Exchange and Curation of Plant Germplasm

Location: National Germplasm Resources Laboratory

Title: Complete genome of Vaccinium-associated virus C, a new virus in the family Totiviridae sequenced from Vaccinium floribundum

Author
item ALVAREZ-QUINTO, ROBERT - Oregon State University
item Grinstead, Sam
item Kinard, Gary
item MARTIN, ROBERT - Oregon State University
item Mollov, Dimitre

Submitted to: Archives of Virology
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 2/15/2024
Publication Date: 4/1/2024
Citation: Alvarez-Quinto, R., Grinstead, S.C., Kinard, G.R., Martin, R., Mollov, D.S. 2024. Complete genome of Vaccinium-associated virus C, a new virus in the family Totiviridae sequenced from Vaccinium floribundum. Archives of Virology. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00705-024-06008-4.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00705-024-06008-4

Interpretive Summary: Blueberries (Vaccinium species) are a major crop grown in the Pacific Northwest Area. Currently there are at least 17 known viruses that infect blueberries and cause a wide range of symptoms and economic losses. A new virus (Vaccinium-associated Virus C, VaVC) was identified in an imported blueberry accession from the USDA-ARS National Clonal Germplasm Repository in Corvallis, Oregon. The complete genomic sequence was determined (genus Totitivius) and detection assays are available to test germplasm for this newly described virus. The biological significance of VaVC requires further study and additional Vaccinium accessions should be screened to investigate the incidence of this new virus.

Technical Abstract: The complete genomic sequence of a new virus tentatively named Vaccinium-associated virus C (VaVC) infecting Vaccinium floribundum Kunth plants was determined. VaVC has homology to members of the family Totiviridae and is closely related to members of the genus Totivirus. The complete genome of VaVC is 4,925 nt (OR475296). The highest pairwise amino acid identities were 44% and 57% to the coat protein of taro-associated totivirus L and the replicase of Pterostylis totivirus, respectively. Phylogenetic analysis grouped VaVC in a clade with plant-associated totiviruses of the genus Totivirus. VaVC has low amino acid identities to its counterpart proteins from sequence-neighboring totiviruses, and it was isolated from a previously unreported host. Therefore, VaVC should be considered a new species in the genus Totivirus.