Title
Identification and characterization of a novel virus associated with an eriophyid mite in extracts of fruit trees leaves
Date Issued
01 October 2021
Access level
metadata only access
Resource Type
journal article
Author(s)
Carvalho Costa L.
Stevens K.
Hu X.
Fuchs M.
Al Rwahnih M.
Diaz-Lara A.
McFarland C.
Foster J.
Plant Quarantine Programs Managed by APHIS-PPQ
Publisher(s)
Springer
Abstract
Eriophyid mites are commonly found on the leaf surface of different plant species. In the present study, a novel virus associated with an eriophyid mite species was detected using high-throughput sequencing (HTS) of total RNA from fruit tree leaves, primarily growing under greenhouse conditions. The complete genome sequence was characterized using rapid amplification of cDNA ends followed by Sanger sequencing, revealing a genome of 8885 nucleotides in length. The single positive-stranded RNA genome was predicted to encode typical conserved domains of members of the genus Iflavirus in the family Iflaviridae. Phylogenetic analysis showed this virus to be closely related to the unclassified iflavirus tomato matilda associated virus (TMaV), with a maximum amino acid sequence identity of 59% in the RNA-dependent RNA polymerase domain. This low identity value justifies the recognition of the novel virus as a potential novel iflavirus. In addition to a lack of graft-transmissibility evidence, RT-PCR and HTS detection of this virus in the putative host plants were not consistent through different years and growing seasons, raising the possibility that rather than a plant virus, this was a virus infecting an organism associated with fruit tree leaves. Identification of Tetra pinnatifidae HTS-derived contigs in all fruit tree samples carrying the novel virus suggested this mite as the most likely host of the new virus (p-value < 1e-11), which is tentatively named “eriophyid mite-associated virus” (EMaV). This study highlights the importance of a careful biological study before assigning a new virus to a particular plant host when using metagenomics data.
Start page
2869
End page
2873
Volume
166
Issue
10
Language
English
OCDE Knowledge area
Horticultura, Viticultura
Scopus EID
2-s2.0-85111306830
PubMed ID
Source
Archives of Virology
ISSN of the container
03048608
Sponsor(s)
This research was supported by USDA APHIS project 20-8224-2121 IA.
Sources of information: Directorio de Producción Científica Scopus