The complete nucleotide sequence and genome organization of tomato chlorosis virus

Synergistic Interaction Between Tomato chlorosis virus and Tomato spotted wilt virus Results in Breakdown of Resistance in Tomato

ABSTRACT Multiple viral infections frequently are found in single plants of cultivated and wild hosts in nature, with unpredictable pathological consequences. Synergistic reactions were observed in mixed infections in tomato plants doubly infected with the positive-sense and phloem-limited single-stranded RNA (ssRNA) crinivirus Tomato chlorosis virus (ToCV) and the negative-sense ssRNA tospovirus Tomato spotted wilt virus (TSWV). Synergism in a tomato cultivar susceptible to both viruses resulted in a rapid death of plants. A pronounced enhancement of ToCV accumulation mediated by TSWV co-infection was observed with no evident egress of ToCV from phloem tissues. No consistent alteration of TSWV accumulation was detected. More remarkable was the synergism observed in tomato cultivars which carry the Sw-5 resistance gene, which are resistant to TSWV. Pre-infection with ToCV resulted in susceptibility to TSWV, whereas co-inoculations did not. This suggested that a threshold level or a time lapse is needed for ToCV to interfere or downregulate the defense response in the TSWV-resistant plants.

Vector Specificity, Host Range, and Genetic Diversity of Tomato chlorosis virus

Tomato chlorosis virus (ToCV), family Closteroviridae, genus Crinivirus, causes interveinal chlorosis, leaf brittleness, and limited necrotic flecking or leaf bronzing on tomato leaves. ToCV can cause a decline in plant vigor and reduce fruit yield. It is emerging as a serious production problem for field and greenhouse tomato growers, and has been increasing in prevalence in many parts of the world. The virus is unique among known whitefly-transmitted viruses, due to its ability to be transmitted by four whitefly vectors from two genera. Studies demonstrated that transmission efficiency and virus persistence in the vector varies significantly among the different whitefly vectors. Trialeurodes abutilonea and Bemisia tabaci biotype B are highly efficient vectors of ToCV. B. tabaci biotype A and T. vaporariorum are less efficient vectors, but are fully capable of transmission. ToCV persists for up to 5 days in T. abutilonea, 2 days in B. tabaci biotype B, and only 1 day in B. tabaci biotype A and T. vaporariorum. ToCV has a moderately wide host range, infecting 24 host plant species in seven families. A portion of the coat protein coding region of five geographically diverse ToCV isolates was compared and found to be highly conserved. This information, coupled with existing information on conservation within the heat shock protein 70 homologue coding region, suggests that many ToCV isolates throughout the world are related very closely, and may have been distributed on plant material.

Nucleotide sequence of Blackberry yellow vein associated virus, a novel member of the Closteroviridae

The complete nucleotide sequence of a novel member of the genus Crinivirus (family Closteroviridae), isolated from blackberry and tentatively named Blackberry yellow vein associated virus, was determined. The virus possesses a bipartite genome. RNA 1 is 7,801 nucleotides in length and papain-like protease, methyltransferase, RNA helicase and RNA-dependent RNA polymerase motifs have been identified in the proteins coded for by this molecule. The polymerase is probably expressed via a +1 ribosomal frameshift, a common feature among members of the Closteroviridae. RNA 2 is 7,917 nucleotides long and encodes nine open reading frames, similar in size and position to orthologous genes of other criniviruses with the exception of a second hydrophobic peptide found near the 5' terminus of the molecule. Phylogenetic analysis revealed a close relationship between Blackberry yellow vein associated virus and Beet pseudo yellows virus, another crinivirus that infects small fruit crops.