A study of molecular diversity was carried out on 136 sugar beets infected with Beet necrotic yellow vein virus (BNYVV, Benyvirus) collected worldwide. The nucleotide sequences of the RNA-2-encoded CP, RNA-3-encoded p25 and RNA-5-encoded p26 proteins were analysed. The resulting phylogenetic trees allowed BNYVV to be classified into groups that show correlations between the virus clusters and geographic origins. The selective constraints on these three sequences were measured by estimating the ratio between synonymous and non-synonymous substitution rates (v) with maximum-likelihood models. The results suggest that selective constraints are exerted differently on the proteins. CP was the most conserved, with mean v values ranging from 0?12 to 0?15, while p26 was less constrained, with mean v values ranging from 0?20 to 0?33. Selection was detected in three amino acid positions of p26, with v values of about 5?0. The p25 sequences presented the highest mean v values (0?36-1?10), with strong positive selection (v=4?7-54?7) acting on 14 amino acids, and particularly on amino acid 68, where the v value was the highest so far encountered in plant viruses.

Background: Previous studies have revealed a wide-spread occurence of the partial and complete genomes of the reverse-transcribing pararetroviruses in the nuclear genomes of herbaceous plants. Although the absence of the virus-encoded integrases attests to the random and incidental incorporation of the viral sequences, their presence could have functional implications for the virus-host interactions.

Grapevine leafroll disease is caused by grapevine leafroll-associated viruses (GLRaVs). These viruses are common in vineyards worldwide and often associated with vitiviruses that are involved in the rugose wood complex of grapevine. Ten mealybug species are known as vectors of one or several of these grapevine viruses, including the apple mealybug Phenacoccus aceris which is widespread in Holarctic regions and able to transmit Grapevine leafroll-associated virus-1 and -3 (GLRaV-1 and -3). Our aim was to characterize the transmission features of leafroll viruses by Phenacoccus aceris in order to better understand the contribution of this mealybug to leafroll epidemics. Results showed that Phenacoccus aceris is able to transmit GLRaV-1, -3, -4, -5, -6, and -9 to grapevine but not GLRaV-7. This is the first report of GLRaV-6 transmission by a mealybug. Also, for the first time it was shown that Phenacoccus aceris could vector vitiviruses Grapevine virus A (GVA) and Grapevine virus B (GVB). First instar nymphs were the most efficient stage in transmitting GLRaV-1, -3, and GVA. This research sheds light on the transmission biology of grapevine viruses by Phenacoccus aceris and represents a step forward to leafroll disease management.

Post-transcriptional gene silencing (PTGS), or RNA silencing, is one of the key mechanisms of antiviral defence used by plants. To counter this defence response, viruses produce suppressor proteins that are able to inhibit the PTGS pathway or to interfere with some of its function. The aim of this study was to evaluate the RNA silencing suppressor (RSS) activity of P0 proteins from selected European isolates of the beet-infecting poleroviruses beet chlorosis virus (BChV) and beet mild yellowing virus (BMYV) using two different experimental systems: (i) agro-infiltration of Nicotiana benthamiana green fluorescent protein-positive plants and (ii) mechanical inoculation of Chenopodium quinoa using a beet necrotic yellow vein virus (BNYVV, genus Benyvirus) RNA3-based replicon. The results demonstrated that P0 of most BMYV isolates exhibited RSS activity, although at various efficiencies among isolates. Conversely, P0 of BChV isolates displayed no RSS activity in either of the two systems under the experimental conditions used. These results are the first reported evidence that P0 proteins of two closely related beet poleroviruses show strain-specific differences in their effects on RNA silencing.