Frontiers in Microbiology (Apr 2021)

Biological and Genetic Characterization of Pod Pepper Vein Yellows Virus-Associated RNA From Capsicum frutescens in Wenshan, China

  • Jiejun Peng,
  • Shan Bu,
  • Shan Bu,
  • Yueyan Yin,
  • Yueyan Yin,
  • Mengying Hua,
  • Kuangjie Zhao,
  • Yuwen Lu,
  • Hongying Zheng,
  • Qionglian Wan,
  • Songbai Zhang,
  • Hairu Chen,
  • Yong Liu,
  • Jianping Chen,
  • Xiaohan Mo,
  • Fei Yan

DOI
https://doi.org/10.3389/fmicb.2021.662352
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 12

Abstract

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Tombusvirus-like associated RNAs (tlaRNAs) are positive-sense single-stranded RNAs found in plants co-infected with some viruses of the genus Polerovirus. Pod pepper vein yellows virus (PoPeVYV) was recently reported as a new recombinant polerovirus causing interveinal yellowing, stunting, and leaf rolling in Capsicum frutescens plants at Wenshan city, Yunnan province, China. The complete genome sequence of its associated RNA has now been determined by next-generation sequencing and reverse transcription (RT) polymerase chain reaction (PCR). PoPeVYV-associated RNA (PoPeVYVaRNA) (GenBank Accession No. MW323470) has 2970 nucleotides and is closely related to other group II tlaRNAs, particularly tobacco bushy top disease-associated RNA (TBTDaRNA, GenBank Accession No. EF529625). In infection experiments on Nicotiana benthamiana and C. frutescens plants, synergism between PoPeVYVaRNA and PoPeVYV was demonstrated, leading to severe interveinal yellowing of leaves and stunting of plants. The results provide further information on the genetic and biological properties of the various agents associated with pepper vein yellows disease (PeVYD).

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