Comparison of the complete sequences of three different isolates of Pepino mosaic virus: Size variability of the TGBp3 protein between tomato and L. peruvianum isolates

Biological and Molecular Properties of Wild potato mosaic virus Isolates from Pepino (Solanum muricatum)

In 1976, a virus with flexuous, filamentous virions typical of the family Potyviridae was isolated from symptomatic pepino (Solanum muricatum) plants growing in two valleys in Peru's coastal desert region. In 2014, a virus with similar-shaped virions was isolated from asymptomatic fruits obtained from pepino plants growing in six coastal valleys and a valley in Peru's Andean highlands. Both were identified subsequently as Wild potato mosaic virus (WPMV) by serology or high-throughput sequencing (HTS). The symptoms caused by two old and seven new isolates from pepino were examined in indicator plants. Infected solanaceous hosts varied considerably in their sensitivities to infection and individual isolates varied greatly in virulence. All seven new isolates caused quick death of infected Nicotiana benthamiana plants and more than half of them killed infected plants of Physalis floridana and S. chancayense. These three species were the most sensitive to infection. The most virulent isolate was found to be BA because it killed five of eight solanaceous host species whereas CA was the least severe because it only killed N. benthamiana. Using HTS, complete genomic sequences of six isolates were obtained, with one isolate (FE) showing evidence of recombination. The distances between individual WPMV isolates in phylogenetic trees and the geographical distances between their collection sites were found to be unrelated. The individual WPMV isolates displayed nucleotide sequence identities of 80.9-99.8%, whereas the most closely related virus, Potato virus V (PVV), was around 75% identical to WPMV. WPMV, PVV, and Peru tomato virus formed clusters of similar phylogenetic diversity, and were found to be distinct but related viruses within the overall Potato virus Y lineage. WPMV infection seems widespread and of likely economic significance to pepino producers in Peru's coastal valleys. Because it constitutes the fifth virus found infecting pepino and this crop is entirely vegetatively propagated, development of healthy pepino stock programs is advocated.

Small RNA-Omics for Virome Reconstruction and Antiviral Defense Characterization in Mixed Infections of Cultivated Solanum Plants

In plants, RNA silencing-based antiviral defense generates viral small RNAs (sRNAs) faithfully representing the viral genomes. We employed sRNA sequencing and bioinformatics (sRNA-omics) to characterize antiviral defense and to reconstruct the full genomic sequences and their variants in the evolving viral quasispecies in cultivated solanaceous plants carrying mixed infections. In naturally infected Solanum tuberosum (potato), one case study revealed a virome comprising Potato virus Y (genus Potyvirus) and Potato virus X (genus Potexvirus), which was reconstructed by de novo-assembling separate genome-size sRNA contigs. Another case study revealed a virome comprising NTN and O strains of Potato virus Y, whose sRNAs assembled in chimeric contigs, which could be disentangled on the basis of reference genome sequences. Both viromes were stable in vegetative potato progeny. In a cross-protection trial of Solanum lycopersicum (tomato), the supposedly protective mild strain CH2 of Pepino mosaic virus (genus Potexvirus) was tested for protection against strain LP of the same virus. Reciprocal mechanical inoculations eventually resulted in co-infection of all individual plants with CH2 and LP strains, reconstructed as separate sRNA contigs. LP invasions into CH2-preinfected plants and vice versa were accompanied by alterations of consensus genome sequences in viral quasispecies, indicating a potential risk of cross-protection measures. Additionally, the study also revealed, by reconstruction from sRNAs, the presence of the mechanically nontransmissible Southern tomato virus (genus Amalgavirus) in some plants. Our in-depth analysis of sRNA sizes, 5'-nucleotide frequencies and hotspot maps revealed similarities in sRNA-generating mechanisms in potato and tomato, differential silencing responses to virome components and potential for sRNA-directed cross-targeting between viral strains which could not, however, prevent the formation of stable viromes.

Ecological and genetic determinants of Pepino Mosaic Virus emergence

Virus emergence is a complex phenomenon, which generally involves spread to a new host from a wild host, followed by adaptation to the new host. Although viruses account for the largest fraction of emerging crop pathogens, knowledge about their emergence is incomplete. We address here the question of whether Pepino Mosaic Virus (PepMV) emergence as a major tomato pathogen worldwide could have involved spread from wild to cultivated plant species and host adaptation. For this, we surveyed natural populations of wild tomatoes in southern Peru for PepMV infection. PepMV incidence, genetic variation, population structure, and accumulation in various hosts were analyzed. PepMV incidence in wild tomatoes was high, and a strain not yet reported in domestic tomato was characterized. This strain had a wide host range within the Solanaceae, multiplying efficiently in most assayed Solanum species and being adapted to wild tomato hosts. Conversely, PepMV isolates from tomato crops showed evidence of adaptation to domestic tomato, possibly traded against adaptation to wild tomatoes. Phylogenetic reconstructions indicated that the most probable ancestral sequence came from a wild Solanum species. A high incidence of PepMV in wild tomato relatives would favor virus spread to crops and its efficient multiplication in different Solanum species, including tomato, allowing its establishment as an epidemic pathogen. Later, adaptation to tomato, traded off against adaptation to other Solanum species, would isolate tomato populations from those in other hosts.

IMPORTANCE

Virus emergence is a complex phenomenon involving multiple ecological and genetic factors and is considered to involve three phases: virus encounter with the new host, virus adaptation to the new host, and changes in the epidemiological dynamics. We analyze here if this was the case in the recent emergence of Pepino Mosaic Virus (PepMV) in tomato crops worldwide. We characterized a new strain of PepMV infecting wild tomato populations in Peru. Comparison of this strain with PepMV isolates from tomato crops, plus phylogenetic reconstructions, supports a scenario in which PepMV would have spread to crops from wild tomato relatives, followed by adaptation to the new host and eventually leading to population isolation. Our data, which derive from the analysis of field isolates rather than from experimental evolution approaches, significantly contribute to understanding of plant virus emergence, which is necessary for its anticipation and prevention.

Pepino mosaic virus genotype shift in North America and development of a loop-mediated isothermal amplification for rapid genotype identification

BACKGROUND

Pepino mosaic, once an emerging disease a decade ago, has become endemic on greenhouse tomatoes worldwide in recent years. Three distinct genotypes of Pepino mosaic virus (PepMV), including EU, US1 and CH2 have been recognized. Our earlier study conducted in 2006-2007 demonstrated a predominant EU genotype in Canada and United States. The objective of the present study was to monitor the dynamic of PepMV genetic composition and its current status in North America.

RESULTS

Through yearly monitoring efforts in 2009-2012, we detected a dramatic shift in the prevalent genotype of PepMV from the genotype EU to CH2 in North America since early 2010, with another shift from CH2 to US1 occurring in Mexico only two years later. Through genetic diversity analysis using the coat protein gene, such genotype shifting of PepMV in North America was linked to the positive identification of similar sequence variants in two different commercial tomato seed sources used for scion and rootstock, respectively. To allow for a quick identification, a reverse transcription loop-mediated isothermal amplification (RT-LAMP) system was developed and demonstrated to achieve a rapid identification for each of the three genotypes of PepMV, EU, US1 and CH2.

CONCLUSION

Through systemic yearly monitoring and genetic diversity analysis, we identified a linkage between the field epidemic isolates and those from commercial tomato seed lots as the likely sources of initial PepMV inoculum that resulted in genetic shifting as observed on greenhouse tomatoes in North America. Application of the genotype-specific RT-LAMP system would allow growers to efficiently determine the genetic diversity on their crops.

Pepino mosaic virus and Tomato torrado virus: two emerging viruses affecting tomato crops in the Mediterranean basin

The molecular biology, epidemiology, and evolutionary dynamics of Pepino mosaic virus (PepMV) are much better understood than those of Tomato torrado virus (ToTV). The earliest descriptions of PepMV suggest a recent jump from nontomato species (e.g., pepino; Solanum muricatum) to tomato (Solanum lycopersicum). Its stability in contaminated plant tissues, its transmission through seeds, and the global trade of tomato seeds and fruits may have facilitated the global spread of PepMV. Stability and seed transmission also probably account for the devastating epidemics caused by already-established PepMV strains, although additional contributing factors may include the efficient transmission of PepMV by contact and the often-inconspicuous symptoms in vegetative tomato tissues. The genetic variability of PepMV is likely to have promoted the first phase of emergence (i.e., the species jump) and it continues to play an important role as the virus becomes more pervasive, progressing from regional outbreaks to pandemics. In contrast, the long-term progression of ToTV outbreaks is not yet clear and this may reflect factors such as the limited accumulation of the virus in infected plants, which has been shown to be approximately two orders of magnitude less than PepMV. The efficient dispersion of ToTV may therefore depend on dense populations of its principal vectors, Bemisia tabaci and Trialeurodes vaporariorum, as has been proposed for the necrogenic satellite RNA of Cucumber mosaic virus.

Major tomato viruses in the Mediterranean basin

Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) originated in South America and was brought to Europe by the Spaniards in the sixteenth century following their colonization of Mexico. From Europe, tomato was introduced to North America in the eighteenth century. Tomato plants show a wide climatic tolerance and are grown in both tropical and temperate regions around the world. The climatic conditions in the Mediterranean basin favor tomato cultivation, where it is traditionally produced as an open-field plant. However, viral diseases are responsible for heavy yield losses and are one of the reasons that tomato production has shifted to greenhouses. The major tomato viruses endemic to the Mediterranean basin are described in this chapter. These viruses include Tomato yellow leaf curl virus, Tomato torrado virus, Tomato spotted wilt virus, Tomato infectious chlorosis virus, Tomato chlorosis virus, Pepino mosaic virus, and a few minor viruses as well.

Characterization of the necrosis determinant of the European genotype of pepino mosaic virus by site-specific mutagenesis of an infectious cDNA clone

Mild and necrotic isolates have been described for the European (EU) genotype of pepino mosaic virus (PepMV), an important pathogen of tomato worldwide. In this study, we produced various infectious cDNA clones of an EU isolate with point mutations introduced by site-directed mutagenesis. Our results showed that the genetic determinant responsible for necrosis induction on tomato and Datura inoxia was amino acid 67 of TGBp3. This amino acid residue also acts as necrosis determinant in PepMV isolates belonging to the Chilean 2 genotype. This demonstrates that a single point mutation plays a role in necrosis induction by PepMV, irrespective of genotype.

Multiple coat protein mutations abolish recognition of Pepino mosaic potexvirus (PepMV) by the potato rx resistance gene in transgenic tomatoes

Despite the fact that Pepino mosaic virus (PepMV) and Potato virus X (PVX) share less than 40% identity in their coat proteins (CP), the known PVX elicitor of Rx, transgenic tomato (cv. Microtom) plants expressing a functional potato Rx resistance gene showed resistance toward PepMV. However, in a low percentage of plants, PepMV accumulation was observed and back inoculation experiments demonstrated that these plants contained resistance-breaking PepMV variants. Sequencing of the CP gene of these variants showed the accumulation of mutations in the amino acid 41 to 125 region the CP, whereas no mutations were observed in the nonevolved isolates. Agroinfiltration-mediated transient expression of the mutant CP demonstrated that they had a greatly attenuated or abolished ability to induce a hypersensitive reaction in Rx-expressing Nicotiana benthamiana leaves. The transient expression of truncated forms of the PepMV CP allowed the identification of a minimal elicitor domain (amino acids 30 to 136). These results demonstrate that the Rx-based sensing system is able to recognize the PepMV CP but, contrary to the situation with PVX, for which only two closely spaced resistance-breaking mutations are known, many mutations over a significant stretch of the PepMV CP allow escape from recognition by Rx.

Pepino mosaic virus: a successful pathogen that rapidly evolved from emerging to endemic in tomato crops

TAXONOMY

Pepino mosaic virus (PepMV) belongs to the Potexvirus genus of the Flexiviridae family.

PHYSICAL PROPERTIES

PepMV virions are nonenveloped flexuous rods that contain a monopartite, positive-sense, single-stranded RNA genome of 6.4 kb with a 3' poly-A tail. The genome contains five major open reading frames (ORFs) encoding a 164-kDa RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRp), three triple gene block proteins of 26, 14 and 9 kDa, and a 25-kDa coat protein.

GENOME DIVERSITY

Four PepMV genotypes, with an intergenotype RNA sequence identity ranging from 78% to 95%, can be distinguished: the original Peruvian genotype (LP); the European (tomato) genotype (EU); the American genotype US1; and the Chilean genotype CH2.

TRANSMISSION

PepMV is very efficiently transmitted mechanically, and a low seed transmission rate has been demonstrated. In addition, bumblebees have been associated with viral transmission.

HOST RANGE

Similar to other Potexviruses, PepMV has a rather narrow host range that is thought to be largely restricted to species of the Solanaceae family. After originally being isolated from pepino (Solanum muricatum), PepMV has been identified in natural infections of the wild tomato species S. chilense, S. chmielewskii, S. parviflorum and S. peruvianum. PepMV is causing significant problems in the cultivation of the glasshouse tomato Solanum lycopersicum, and has been identified in weeds belonging to various plant families in the vicinity of tomato glasshouses.

SYMPTOMATOLOGY

PepMV symptoms can be very diverse. Fruit marbling is the most typical and economically devastating symptom. In addition, fruit discoloration, open fruit, nettle-heads, leaf blistering or bubbling, leaf chlorosis and yellow angular leaf spots, leaf mosaic and leaf or stem necrosis have been associated with PepMV. The severity of PepMV symptoms is thought to be dependent on environmental conditions, as well as on the properties of the viral isolate. Minor nucleotide sequence differences between isolates from the same genotype have been shown to lead to enhanced aggressiveness and symptomatology.

CONTROL

Prevention of infection through strict hygiene measures is currently the major strategy for the control of PepMV in tomato production. Cross-protection can be effective, but only under well-defined and well-controlled conditions, and the effectiveness depends strongly on the PepMV genotype.

Mixed infections of Pepino mosaic virus strains modulate the evolutionary dynamics of this emergent virus

Pepino mosaic virus (PepMV) is an emerging pathogen that causes severe economic losses in tomato crops (Solanum lycopersicum L.) in the Northern hemisphere, despite persistent attempts of control. In fact, it is considered one of the most significant viral diseases for tomato production worldwide, and it may constitute a good model for the analysis of virus emergence in crops. We have combined a population genetics approach with an analysis of in planta properties of virus strains to explain an observed epidemiological pattern. Hybridization analysis showed that PepMV populations are composed of isolates of two types (PepMV-CH2 and PepMV-EU) that cocirculate. The CH2 type isolates are predominant; however, EU isolates have not been displaced but persist mainly in mixed infections. Two molecularly cloned isolates belonging to each type have been used to examine the dynamics of in planta single infections and coinfection, revealing that the CH2 type has a higher fitness than the EU type. Coinfections expand the range of susceptible hosts, and coinfected plants remain symptomless several weeks after infection, so a potentially important problem for disease prevention and management. These results provide an explanation of the observed epidemiological pattern in terms of genetic and ecological interactions among the different viral strains. Thus, mixed infections appear to be contributing to shaping the genetic structure and dynamics of PepMV populations.

Real-time quantitative PCR based sensitive detection and genotype discrimination of Pepino mosaic virus

Over the last decade a new virus disease caused by Pepino mosaic virus (PepMV) has been threatening the tomato industry worldwide. Reliable detection is vitally important to aid disease control. Methods must be both sensitive and capable of detecting the range of distinct genotypes that have been identified. The development of five new reverse transcription real-time quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR) assays is described, which allow the detection of all known PepMV genotypes. The performance of the assays was evaluated on Peruvian, European tomato, Ch2 and US1 PepMV genotypes and optimised for both two- and one-step RT-qPCR detection formats. One-step RT-qPCR detected PepMV European tomato genotype particles at least two orders of magnitude more sensitively than ELISA. The method detected as little as one naturally infected seed among 5000 uninfected seeds. The genotype-specificity of the five assays was compared using PepMV isolates representing all of the different genotypes. The following genotype combinations were all discriminated successfully: European tomato-Peruvian, Ch2, and US1. In addition to its application for diagnostic purposes, the genotype-specificity and the quantitative potential of the method, makes it very useful for epidemiological studies or for studies evaluating resistance of plants to virus infection.

Pepino mosaic virus on Tomato Seed: Virus Location and Mechanical Transmission

In just a few years, Pepino mosaic virus (PepMV) has become a major threat to greenhouse tomato production around the world. Although tomato seed is suspected to spread the disease, its importance as an initial virus inoculum for PepMV has not been established. To determine the potential for seed transmission, a tomato seed lot highly contaminated with PepMV was used for large-scale seedling grow-out tests. None of 10,000 grow-out seedlings was infected as determined by symptom expression, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), or infectivity assay on Nicotiana benthamiana. Even though PepMV was not seed transmitted on tomato, the virus was effectively transmitted to tomato and N. benthamiana seedlings through mechanical transmission with seed extract. To examine the exact location where PepMV particles accumulated on the tomato seed, seed coats and embryos were carefully isolated and tested separately by ELISA, real-time RT-PCR, and bioassay on N. benthamiana. PepMV was detected in the seed coat fraction in both immature and mature tomato seeds, but not in the embryo. However, in N. benthamiana, the virus was neither seedborne nor seed-transmitted. Because PepMV is seedborne in tomato, efficient mechanical transmission of PepMV from the virus-contaminated tomato seed to seedlings could initiate a disease epidemic in a new tomato growing area. Thus, it is important to plant certified tomato seed that has been tested free of PepMV.

Genetic Composition of Pepino mosaic virus Population in North American Greenhouse Tomatoes

In just a few short years, pepino mosaic disease has quickly become endemic in greenhouse tomatoes around the world. Although three genotypes of Pepino mosaic virus (PepMV) were identified in the United States, genetic composition of PepMV in greenhouse tomato crops in North America has not been determined. In this study, genetic variability and population structure of PepMV were evaluated through nucleotide sequence comparison and phylogenetic analysis of two genomic regions (helicase domain and TGB2-3) derived from 91 cDNA clones that were derived from 31 field-collected samples. These samples were collected from several major greenhouse tomato facilities in five states in the United States and two provinces in Canada. All four major genotypes of PepMV (EU, US1, US2, and CH2) were found in North America. Three distinct genotypes (EU, US1, and US2) were found in mixed infection in samples collected from Arizona and Colorado, two genotypes (EU and CH2) in Texas, and a single genotype (EU) in Alabama and California and the provinces of British Columbia and Ontario in Canada. The complexity of population genetics of PepMV in the United States poses an additional challenge to the greenhouse tomato industry because a tomato cultivar with durable resistance to multiple genotypes of PepMV may be harder to develop.

Development of a one-step immunocapture real-time TaqMan RT-PCR assay for the broad spectrum detection of Pepino mosaic virus

A real-time reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) was developed for efficient detection of genetically diverse Pepino mosaic virus (PepMV) isolates. The novel detection system was designed to use a duo-primer system targeting the conserved region in the triple gene block 2 (TGB2) gene with a single conserved TaqMan probe to broaden its reaction to cover all available PepMV strains. This duo-primer real-time RT-PCR assay was evaluated against US1, US2, Ch1, Ch2 and 25 field isolates collected from six major commercial tomato greenhouse facilities in U.S. and Canada in 2006. Under optimum reaction conditions, sensitivity of the detection was as low as 100 fg of purified viral RNA. This assay was also evaluated for its efficiency in detecting PepMV in various levels of contaminated seed samples. Using immuno-capture sample preparation, real-time RT-PCR was able to detect PepMV in one infested seed in 1000. This level of sensitivity indicated that the one-step immuno-capture duo-primer TaqMan real-time RT-PCR developed in the present study could be used for routine seed health assays.

Sources of Resistance to Pepino mosaic virus in Tomato Accessions

Pepino mosaic virus (PepMV) is an emerging disease on greenhouse tomato. This highly contagious disease is difficult to control. The best disease management strategy is likely through the use of disease resistance. A major tomato germplasm core collection was evaluated for its resistance against PepMV. These accessions included 23 Solanum lycopersicum, 8 S. pimpinellifolium, 33 S. peruvianum, 18 S. chilense, and 27 S. habrochaites. The results showed that all plants in the accessions corresponding to S. lycopersicum and S. pimpinellifolium were susceptible to PepMV-US infection. On the other hand, two accessions of S. peruvianum (LA107 and LA1305) and S. chilense (LA1971 and LA2748) appeared to have some levels of moderate resistance. However, the most promising resistance segregated in three S. habrochaites accessions (LA1731, LA2156, and LA2167). Resistant plants from these three S. habrochaites accessions were saved for selection. A secondary screening was carried out with progenies generated from the selected plants. These tests showed the segregation of broad-spectrum resistance from the selected S. habrochaites plants against PepMV, especially in LA1731. The segregated LA1731 plants were resistant to not only the U.S. type isolate but also the European type isolate.

Molecular characterization of two Pepino mosaic virus variants from imported tomato seed reveals high levels of sequence identity between Chilean and US isolates

Pepino mosaic virus (PepMV), a member of the genus Potexvirus, was first described in South America on pepino (Solanum muricatum A.). Only in recent years, it was reported to infect greenhouse-grown tomatoes. Genome nucleotide sequences from several European isolates showed extensive sequence identity (>99%). Recent genome nucleotide sequences from two US isolates (US1 and US2) however showed much greater sequence divergence from that of the European PepMV isolates. My interest in characterizing virus isolates from South America was due to an active commercial tomato seed production in Chile. Through genome sequence comparison and phylogenetic analyses, we may be able to understand the source of virus infection and control this devastating disease from further spreading into new tomato growing regions of the world. Complete genome nucleotide sequences from two PepMV variants (designated as Ch1 and Ch2) were determined from a virus isolate obtained from a commercial tomato seed lot produced in Chile. Using RT-PCR-based genome walking strategy, complete genome sequences from these two variants were determined. Excluding poly (A) tails, the genomes of PepMV Ch1 and Ch2 were 6414 and 6412 nucleotides (nt), respectively. Pairwise comparisons of PepMV Ch1 and Ch2 genomes with other PepMV isolates showed that the highest nucleotide sequence identity was with two US isolates, 98.7% between PepMV Ch1 and US1, and 90.7% between Ch2 and US2. Similar to PepMV US1 and US2, the two Chilean variants were the most divergent from one another (78% nt identity). These two Chilean PepMV variants also shared only 78-86% nucleotide sequence identity to that of five European isolates. The high level of nucleotide sequence identity between Chilean and US isolates suggests a common origin. Phylogenetic analyses with various gene products generated three distinct sequence clusters (or strains): US1 and Ch1 in the first group, US2 and Ch2 in the second, and the European tomato isolates in the third. Based on the host specificity, it was previously suggested that the original pepino isolate should be considered a distinct strain from that of the tomato isolates.

Genetic Structure of the Population of Pepino mosaic virus Infecting Tomato Crops in Spain

ABSTRACT The population structure of Pepino mosaic virus (PepMV), which has caused severe epidemics in tomato in Spain since 2000, was analyzed. Isolates were characterized by the nucleotide sequence of the triple gene block and coat protein gene and, for a subset of isolates, a part of the RNA-dependent RNA polymerase gene. The full-length sequence of the genomic RNA of a Solanum muricatum isolate from Peru also was determined. In spite of high symptom diversity, the Spanish population of PepMV mostly comprised highly similar isolates belonging to the strain reported in Europe (European tomato strain), which has been the most prevalent genotype in Spain. The Spanish PepMV population was not structured spatially or temporally. Also, isolates highly similar to those from nontomato hosts from Peru (Peruvian strain) or to isolate US2 from the United States (US2 strain) were detected at lower frequency relative to the European strain. These two strains were detected in peninsular Spain only in 2004, but the Peruvian strain has been detected in the Canary Islands since 2000. These results suggest that PepMV was introduced into Spain more than once. Isolates from the Peruvian and US2 strains always were found in mixed infections with the European tomato strain, and interstrain recombinants were detected. The presence of different strains of the virus, and of recombinant isolates, should be considered for the development of control strategies based on genetic resistance.