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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 #160245
Title: TOBAMOVIRUSES FROM HIBISCUS IN FLORIDA AND BEYOND

Author
item Adkins, Scott
item KAMENOVA, IVANKA - USDA, ARS, USHRL
item CHIEMSOMBAT, PISSAWAN - KASETSART UNIV.
item BAKER, CARLYE - FDACS-DPI
item LEWANDOWSKI, DENNIS - UNIV OF FLORIDA -CREC

Submitted to: Meeting Abstract
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 2/1/2004
Publication Date: 3/1/2004
Citation: Adkins, S. T., Kamenova, I., Chiemsombat, P., Baker, C. A., Lewandowski, D. J. 2004. Tobamoviruses from Hibiscus in Florida and Beyond. Meeting Abstract.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: A new tobamovirus species, Hibiscus latent Fort Pierce virus (HLFPV) was isolated from landscape plantings of the malvaceous plant hibiscus (Hibiscus rosa-sinensis) in Florida (Adkins et al., 2003, Plant Dis. 87:1190-1196). The experimental host range of this virus is mostly limited to the Malvaceae, which includes fiber and food crops such as cotton, kenaf and okra, in addition to economically important ornamental crops like hibiscus. Virion morphology and genome organization are typical of tobamoviruses. A related hibiscus-infecting tobamovirus, Hibiscus latent Singapore virus (HLSV), was found in Singapore (Srinivasan et al., 2002, Arch. Virol. 147:1585-1598). Serological and molecular methods were compared to evaluate their usefulness for diagnosis of HLFPV. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and tissue-blot immunoassay (TBIA) techniques were found to be convenient for analyzing large numbers of samples although immunocapture reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction (IC-RT-PCR) was a useful alternative where sample size was limited or the virus titer was low. An initial survey by ELISA for HLFPV in landscape hibiscus plants in Florida has shown a high level (56%) of incidence. Subsequent analysis of a limited number of samples of related malvaceous species has identified HLFPV infection of Turk's cap (Malvaviscus arboreus), rose of Sharon (H. syriacus) and scarlet rosemallow (H. coccineus). A similar virus has been detected in H. rosa-sinensis in Thailand by TBIA. Amplification of the CP gene of the Thai virus by IC-RT-PCR and subsequent analysis showed the nucleotide and amino acid sequences to be nearly identical to HLFPV. Dixie rosemallow (H. mutabilis) and H. rosa-sinensis plants have been found in Florida infected with tobamoviruses that are serologically distinct from HLFPV. Cloning of additional gene products from these tobamoviruses isolated from Florida Hibiscus spp. is ongoing to facilitate further sequence comparisons.