Characterization of 10 tobacco vein banding mosaic virus isolates from China

Abstract

Summary. -Th e complete RNA genome sequences of 10 tobacco vein banding mosaic virus (TVBMV) isolates from China were determined using fi ve overlapping cDNA clones. TVBMV was divided into three groups for HC-Pro and CP and into two groups for P3 and 6K1. With more isolate sequences analyzed, the phylogenetic results suggest that TVBMV could be divided into four subgroups based on HC-Pro and CP and into three subgroups with P3 and 6K1. Nucleotide sequence diversity analysis showed geographical diff erentiation among the TVBMV isolates. Th ree of the 10 isolates were found to have undergone recombination and new recombination sites were identifi ed in the TVBMV genome. All coding genes were under negative selection and the population appeared to have remained stable over a long period. Th is study also provides preliminary data on the 3´-untranslated region as potentially the best genome sequence for developing transgenic tobacco.