Mixed infection of an emaravirus, a crinivirus, and a begomovirus in Pueraria lobata (Willd) Ohwi

Abstract

Pueraria lobata (Willd) (Pueraria montana var. lobata (Willd.) Maesen & S. M. Almeida ex Sanjappa & Predeep) is an important herbal medicine used in many countries. In P. lobata plants showing symptoms of mosaic, yellow spots, and mottling, mixed infection of new viruses provisionally named Pueraria lobata-associated emaravirus (PloAEV, genus Emaravirus), Pueraria lobata-associated crinivirus (PloACV, genus Crinivirus), and isolate CQ of the previously reported kudzu mosaic virus (KuMV-CQ, genus Begomovirus) was confirmed through high-throughput sequencing. PloAEV has five RNA segments, encoding a putative RNA-dependent RNA polymerase, glycoprotein precursor, nucleocapsid protein, movement protein, and P5, respectively. PloACV has two RNA segments, encoding 11 putative proteins. Only PloAEV could be mechanically transmitted from mixed infected symptomatic kudzu to Nicotiana benthamiana plants. All three viruses were detected in 35 symptomatic samples collected from five different growing areas, whereas no viruses were detected in 21 non-symptomatic plants, suggesting a high association between these three viruses. Thus, this study provides new knowledge on the diversity and molecular characteristics of viruses in P. lobata plants affected by the viral disease.

Characterization of a Putative New Member of the Genus Potyvirus from Kudzu (Pueraria montana var. lobata) in Mississippi

“…Curiously, until very recently, the only report regarding viruses affecting kudzu from Southeastern and Eastern Asia originated from Vietnam and concerned kudzu mosaic virus (KuMV, a begomovirus) [9]. However, research conducted by Liang and collaborators revealed mixed infections by three viruses in a batch of symptomatic samples collected in Beibei (Chongqing, China) [10]. Two of the viruses detected were determined to be novel viruses in the genera Crinivirus (family: Closteroviridae) and Emaravirus (family: Fimoviridae) and were observed in coinfections with KuMV.…”

The Complex World of Emaraviruses—Challenges, Insights, and Prospects

“…In figs, 15 viruses have been identified, belonging to several genera [72][73][74][75][76][77]. The recently detected Pueraria lobata-associated emaravirus (PloAEV) was shown to occur only in mixed infection with two different viruses raising questions of mutual relationships between them [61].…”

The Complex World of Emaraviruses – Challenges, Insights and Prospects

“…In fig, 15 viruses have been identified, belonging to several genera [36][37][38][39][40][41]. The recently detected Pueraria lobata-associated emaravirus (PloAEV) was shown to occur only in mixed infection with two different viruses raising questions of mutual relationships between them [42]. The complexity of viruses in different combinations can induce a variety of symptoms with synergistic or antagonistic effects in their hosts, thereby impeding the determination of which symptom is caused by which virus.…”

“…With only few exceptions, emaraviruses seem to establish long-lasting infections in a restricted number of host species, mainly comprising of a single genus. However, transmission to experimental herbaceous plants including Arabidopsis thaliana, Nicotiana (N.) benthamiana, N. tabacum, N. clevelandii, Phaseolus vulgaris, Chrozophora rottleri and various cucurbit species was demonstrated by mechanical means for pigeonpea-infecting emaraviruses [27], RLBV [48], AcCRaV [52], TiRSaV [57], PerMV [61], LiCRaV [62], RRV [93] and PloAEV [42]. In greenhouse experiments, several sweet grasses were reported to be infected with HPWMoV [94].…”

“…In kudzu from China five complete RNAs of PloAEV were identified. Phylogenetic analysis revealed closest relationship of the virus which is mechanically transmissible to N. benthamiana with clade A emaraviruses [42].…”