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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 #410117
Research Project: Characterization and Detection of Viruses that Impact the Exchange and Curation of Plant Germplasm

Location: National Germplasm Resources Laboratory

Title: Complete sequence and genome characterization of Miscanthus virus M, a new betaflexivirus from Miscanthus sp

Author
item Abrahamian, Peter
item Grinstead, Sam
item Kinard, Gary
item Goenaga, Ricardo
item ROTT, PHILIPPE - Cirad, France
item Mollov, Dimitre

Submitted to: Archives of Virology
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 12/21/2023
Publication Date: 1/12/2024
Citation: Abrahamian, P., Grinstead, S.C., Kinard, G.R., Goenaga, R.J., Rott, P., Mollov, D.S. 2024. Complete sequence and genome characterization of Miscanthus virus M, a new betaflexivirus from Miscanthus sp. Archives of Virology. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00705-024-05966-z.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00705-024-05966-z

Interpretive Summary: Miscanthus is a perennial grass that is used as an ornamental and for biomass production. It’s related to sugarcane and is also used in breeding for that crop. We discovered a new virus in a Miscanthus plant at the USDA-ARS germplasm collection in Miami, FL. We assigned it a tentative name of Miscanthus Virus M (MiVM) and determined its genomic organization using sequencing techniques. MiVM can be taxonomically assigned to a virus family (Betaflexiviridae) and a sub-family but appears to represent both a novel genus and species. This research facilitates developing a molecular detection technique for MiVM. Further research will be needed to determine how it is transmitted and any economic impact it causes.

Technical Abstract: A novel betaflexivirus, tentatively named Miscanthus virus M (MiVM), was isolated from Miscanthus sp. The complete genome of MiVM is 7,388 bp (excluding the poly-A tail). It is predicted to encode five open reading frames and has a genome organization similar to those of the families Alphaflexiviridae and Betaflexiviridae (Quinvirinae). The amino acid sequences of both the replicase and coat protein shared less than 45% identities with the corresponding sequences of members of either family. Phylogenetic analysis confirmed that MiVM belongs to the family Betaflexiviridae and subfamily Quiniviriane but this virus did not cluster with any currently recognized genus sufficiently to be placed in it. We propose that Miscanthus virus M represents a novel species and genus within the family Betaflexiviridae.