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ARS Home » Pacific West Area » Corvallis, Oregon » Horticultural Crops Research Unit » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #336177
Title: A new, widespread emaravirus discovered in blackberry

Author
item HASSAN, MOHAMED - University Of Arkansas
item DI BELLO, PATRICK - Oregon State University
item Keller, Karen
item Martin, Robert
item SABANADZOVIC, SEAD - Mississippi State University
item TZANETAKIS, IOANNIS - University Of Arkansas

Submitted to: Virus Research
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 12/15/2016
Publication Date: 5/2/2017
Citation: Hassan, M., Di Bello, P.L., Keller, K.E., Martin, R.R., Sabanadzovic, S., Tzanetakis, I.E. 2017. A new, widespread emaravirus discovered in blackberry. Virus Research. 235:1-5. doi: 10.1016/j.virusres.2017.04.006.

Interpretive Summary: Blackberry yellow vein disease is attributed to mixed infection of RNA viruses with 10 viruses identified from diseased plants. There is no one virus that is always present, but in all cases the disease is caused by infection with two or more viruses. Here we describe a new Emaravirus found in a significant number of blackberry plants exhibiting symptoms of yellow vein disease. The virus has been named Blackberry leaf mottle associated virus (BLMaV). There are two emaraviruses known to infect Rubus (raspberry and blackberry), Raspberry leaf blotch virus which has only been reported in Europe and BLMaV. BLMaV is transmissible by eriophyid mites and the virus presence was verified in all states surveyed. However, BLMaV occurred frequently with other viruses, making BYVD epidemiology and management even more complex than previously thought. The incidence of BLMaV was 43% among all samples tested. The high incidence of the virus in wild blackberry in Arkansas (58%) indicates that they may act as reservoir for the virus, a major consideration in developing management strategies for BYVD.

Technical Abstract: A new virus was identified in blackberry plants showing leaf mottling, chlorotic ringspots and curved midribs, symptoms associated with blackberry yellow vein disease (BYVD). The genome of the new virus, provisionally named blackberry leaf mottle associated virus (BLMaV), was characterized and phylogenetic analysis revealed its close relationship to recognized members of the genus Emaravirus. BLMaV is transmitted by a yet to be described eriophyid mite species, further reinforcing its placement in the genus. Detection protocols were developed and used to determine the presence of the virus in plants collected from several areas in the U.S.A. The incidence of BLMaV was greater than 40% in BYVD-affected material.