Vector-Enabled Metagenomic (VEM) Surveys Using Whiteflies (Aleyrodidae) Reveal Novel Begomovirus Species in the New and OldWorlds
Karyna Rosario,
Yee Mey Seah,
Christian Marr,
Arvind Varsani,
Simona Kraberger,
Daisy Stainton,
Enrique Moriones,
Jane E. Polston,
Siobain Duffy,
Mya Breitbart
Affiliations
Karyna Rosario
College of Marine Science, University of South Florida, Saint Petersburg, FL 33701, USA
Yee Mey Seah
Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, New Brunswick, NJ 08901, USA
Christian Marr
College of Marine Science, University of South Florida, Saint Petersburg, FL 33701, USA
Arvind Varsani
School of Biological Sciences and Biomolecular Interaction Centre, University of Canterbury, Ilam, Christchurch 8041, New Zealand
Simona Kraberger
School of Biological Sciences and Biomolecular Interaction Centre, University of Canterbury, Ilam, Christchurch 8041, New Zealand
Daisy Stainton
School of Biological Sciences and Biomolecular Interaction Centre, University of Canterbury, Ilam, Christchurch 8041, New Zealand
Enrique Moriones
Instituto de Hortofruticultura Subtropical y Mediterránea “La Mayora” (IHSM-UMA-CSIC), Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, Estación Experimental “La Mayora”, Algarrobo-Costa, Málaga 29750, Spain
Jane E. Polston
Department of Plant Pathology, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611, USA
Siobain Duffy
Department of Ecology, Evolution and Natural Resources, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, New Brunswick, NJ 08901, USA
Mya Breitbart
College of Marine Science, University of South Florida, Saint Petersburg, FL 33701, USA
Whitefly-transmitted viruses belonging to the genus Begomovirus (family Geminiviridae) represent a substantial threat to agricultural food production. The rapid evolutionary potential of these single-stranded DNA viruses combined with the polyphagous feeding behavior of their whitefly vector (Bemisia tabaci) can lead to the emergence of damaging viral strains. Therefore, it is crucial to characterize begomoviruses circulating in different regions and crops globally. This study utilized vector-enabled metagenomics (VEM) coupled with high-throughput sequencing to survey begomoviruses directly from whiteflies collected in various locations (California (USA), Guatemala, Israel, Puerto Rico, and Spain). Begomoviruses were detected in all locations, with the highest diversity identified in Guatemala where up to seven different species were identified in a single field. Both bipartite and monopartite viruses were detected, including seven new begomovirus species from Guatemala, Puerto Rico, and Spain. This begomovirus survey extends the known diversity of these highly damaging plant viruses. However, the new genomes described here and in the recent literature appear to reflect the outcome of interactions between closely-related species, often resulting from recombination, instead of unique, highly divergent species.
