Mixed infection of a new begomovirus, Jatropha leaf curl Guntur virus and recombinant/chimeric jatropha leaf curl Gujarat virus in Jatropha gossypiifolia

Abstract

Significance and Impact of the Study: The present study reports a new begomovirus species, the Jatropha leaf curl Guntur virus infecting the weed J. gossypiifolia. It also highlights the presence of mixed infection comprising Jatropha leaf curl Guntur virus and recombinant/chimeric JLCGV in the same host. The study reports on the recombinant origin of the identified strains, which might be the product of earlier mixed infection such as the one presented in the study. This report accentuates the importance of deweeding practices in agriculture to prevent the evolution of the new strains of viruses.