Skip to main content
ARS Home » Pacific West Area » Corvallis, Oregon » Horticultural Crops Research Unit » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #286184

Title: Occurrence of aphidborne viruses in southernmost South American populations of Fragaria chiloensis ssp. chiloensis

Author
item ROJAS, P - University Of Talca
item ALMADA, R - Institute Of Agricultural Research, Chile
item SANDOVAL, C - University Of Talca
item Keller, Karen
item Martin, Robert
item CALIGARI, P D - University Of Talca

Submitted to: Plant Pathology
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 5/12/2012
Publication Date: 3/24/2013
Citation: Rojas, P., Almada, R.R., Sandoval, C., Keller, K.E., Martin, R.R., Caligari, P.S. 2013. Occurrence of aphidborne viruses in southernmost South American populations of Fragaria chiloensis ssp. chiloensis. Plant Pathology. 62:428-435.

Interpretive Summary: Wild and cultivated plants of the beach strawberry, Fragaria chiloensis ssp. chiloensis (Fcc), were collected at multiple sites in southern Chile and evaluated for the presence of the major aphid-borne viruses known to infect strawberry in other parts of the world. The following viruses: Strawberry mild yellow edge virus (SMYEV), Strawberry mottle virus (SMoV), Strawberry crinkle virus (SCV) and Strawberry vein banding virus (SVBV), were found in wild and cultivated Fcc plants, but severe symptoms were not associated with viral infection even when all four viruses were detected in the same plants. This suggests that these plants may provide a source of virus tolerance that could be useful in strawberry breeding programs. Sequence information suggests the virus isolates from these remote areas are surprisingly similar to isolates from North America and Europe that have been reported previously. The partial sequences of SCV and SVBV are the first reports of these viruses from southern Chile. The high-throughput sequencing (Illumina) of double-stranded RNA isolated from these plants failed to provide evidence of novel strawberry viruses in the native strawberry in southern Chile.

Technical Abstract: Wild and cultivated Fragaria chiloensis ssp. chiloensis (Fcc) plants were collected at different locations in southern Chile in order to determine the current viral status of this native strawberry. The following aphidborne viruses (ABVs): Strawberry mild yellow edge virus (SMYEV), Strawberry mottle virus (SMoV), Strawberry crinkle virus (SCV) and Strawberry vein banding virus (SVBV), were found in wild and cultivated Fcc plants, but severe symptoms were not associated with viralinfection. Furthermore, partial gene sequences of these ABV isolates were determined and displayed a high degree of conservation with virus isolates reported previously. In addition, partial gene sequences of SCV and SVBV from southernmost South American populations of Fcc are described for the first time. High-throughput parallel sequencing (Illumina) of double-stranded RNA was used to provide viral profiles of Fcc from different locations. Although strong evidence of novel viruses affecting Fcc was not found, it was confirmed that ABVs are the most frequent viruses affecting this subspecies. The information provided will help in the development of high-quality molecular tools for virus detection and control in Fcc.