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ARS Home » Southeast Area » Fort Pierce, Florida » U.S. Horticultural Research Laboratory » Subtropical Plant Pathology Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #215232
Title: Two distinct evolutionary pathways for Citrus tristeza virus: recombination defines two gene modules and provides for increased genetic diversity in a narrow host range plant virus.

Author
item Hilf, Mark

Submitted to: Conference of International Organization of Citrus Virologists
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 8/15/2007
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary: Citrus tristeza virus (CTV) is one of the most devastating virus diseases of citrus, occurring in and causing economic damage in many areas of citrus production. CTV causes many types of symptoms on different citrus varieties and cultivars. CTV is a population of viruses which contains genetically different sub-populations, also known as genotypes. This research provided evidence on how some of these different gentoypes of CTV have evolved and indicates that new genotypes of CTV can arise at any time. The evidence suggests that research on the genetic diversity of CTV needs to be ongoing so that new tools for detection, diagnosis and control can be developed as new genotypes of CTV evolve and are identified.

Technical Abstract: Phylogenetic analysis of the full or partial genomic sequences of the Citrus tristeza virus (CTV) isolates T36, T68-1 and NS25 showed phylogenetic incongruities between sequences involved in viral RNA replication and those involved in movement and other viral functions. This incongruity was not found for these sequences for isolates T3, T30, T385, VT and T318A. Distance analysis of the replication sequences of T36, T68-1 and NS25 showed these are phylogenetically distinct from each other and from replication sequences of isolates T3, T30, T385, VT and T318A, which formed a cluster of related sequences. Sequences not directly associated with replication were highly similar among all CTV sequences examined. Potential recombination points were identified in the genomes of T36, T68-1 and NS25, indicating that recombination joined disparate replication sequences with highly conserved sequences for movement and other viral functions. The evidence suggests that the CTV genome has evolved two gene modules. Large increases in genetic diversity have occurred in the replication module when distantly related replication sequences were introduced into infected citrus trees and recombination occurred with the more conserved sequences of a CTV population already present in these trees. Sequence conservation in the movement/encapsidation module may be linked to the virus’ adaptation and restriction to citrus.