Análise molecular da adaptabilidade hospedeira de Cowpea aphid-borne mosaic virus e caracterização de um novo tymovírus infectando Cassia hoffmannseggii

Abstract

Brazil is the world’s largest passion fruit producer. The sanitary problems, mainly diseases caused by viruses are among the limiting factors for increasing productivity and longevity of the plantations. In Brazil, passion fruit woodiness, caused by Cowpea aphid-borne mosaic virus (CABMV) is the major viral disease of this crop. CABMV is also causing agent of the potyvirus mosaic, a viral disease that produces serious damages in cowpea. This crop in Brazil is important mainly in the Northeastern region and represents a relevant source of protein and starch for the population. Some years ago, in the state of Pernambuco it was found a potyvirus naturally infecting “lava-pratos”, leguminous plant native to Atlantic Forest commonly found on the margins of passionflower and cowpea crops. In the city of Paudalho it was found a group of “lava-pratos” plants presenting very intense symptoms with yellow spot on the leaves. From those plants, preparations examined in a transmission electron microscope showed the presence of elongated flexuous particles and cylindrical inclusions typical of potyvirus as well as isometric particles in high concentration and vesicles on the periphery of the chloroplasts which suggested the occurrence of a tymovirus. Serological analyses and coat protein sequencing to identify the potyvirus as well as studies on host adaptation in passionflower and cowpea, using isolates from these crops were undertaken. The virus with isometric particles was chemically purified to produce polyclonal antiserum and subjected to serological studies, host range and genome sequencing for characterization. It was concluded that the potyvirus found in “lava-pratos” is CABMV and phylogenetically observed the host adaptation of this virus to the families Fabaceae and Passifloraceae. For some strains geographical distance was not the strongest factor for genetic grouping and the Brazilian isolates form a large group distinct to other countries. According to the criteria of taxonomy, using amino acid sequence of coat protein and conserved region "tymobox", it was determined the presence of a tymovirus in “lava-pratos”, for which was proposed to be a new species named Cassia yellow mosaic-associated virus (CAYMaV).