Skip to main content
ARS Home » Pacific West Area » Corvallis, Oregon » Horticultural Crops Research Unit » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #272143

Title: Characterization of a novel Emaravirus infecting blackberry

Author
item HASSAN, M - University Of Arkansas
item Keller, Karen
item Martin, Robert
item SABANADZOVIC, S - Mississippi State University

Submitted to: APS Annual Meeting
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 5/25/2011
Publication Date: 8/2/2011
Citation: Hassan, M., Keller, K.E., Martin, R.R., Sabanadzovic, S. 2011. Characterization of a novel Emaravirus infecting blackberry. APS Annual Meeting. 101(6):S170.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Several new viruses have been identified in blackberry in the last decade. These viruses are usually found in mixed infections and are associated with blackberry yellow vein disease (BYVD), a disorder caused by virus complexes. In order to investigate the epidemiology of the viruses involved in the disease, virus-tested sentinel blackberry plants were placed in a field with high BYVD incidence and several developed viral-like symptoms after a month exposure in the field. Symptoms included leaf mottling, chlorotic ringspots and curved midribs. Some of the symptomatic plants were subjected to deep sequencing using the Illumina platform and regions of an apparently new virus were obtained. The genome organization of the new virus is similar to that of emaraviruses and phylogenetic analysis showed that it is closely related to Fig mosaic virus and Rose rosette virus. RT-PCR detection protocols have been developed and successfully used to determine the presence of the virus in BYVD plants. These tests showed that the new virus is prevalent in blackberry fields and may be involved in the etiology of BYVD. Mite transmission experiments will identify the vector that accounts for the rapid movement of the virus.