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ARS Home » Northeast Area » Beltsville, Maryland (BARC) » Beltsville Agricultural Research Center » Molecular Plant Pathology Laboratory » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #300455
Title: A population of endogenous pararetrovirus genomes in carrizo citrange

Author
item ROY, AVIJIT - University Of Florida
item Shao, Jonathan
item Schneider, William
item Hartung, John
item BRLANSKY, R - University Of Florida

Submitted to: Genome Announcements
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 12/19/2013
Publication Date: 12/19/2013
Publication URL: http://handle.nal.usda.gov/10113/61528
Citation: Roy, A., Shao, J.Y., Schneider, W.L., Hartung, J.S., Brlansky, R.H. 2013. A population of endogenous pararetrovirus genomes in carrizo citrange. Genome Announcements. 2(1):e01063-13.

Interpretive Summary: It may seem surprising, but the genes of a certain group plant viruses can be found as part of the genome of healthy plants. These genes can be identified based on their sequence and structure. In most cases the viruses in the plant genomes are silent, and do not lead to disease, but in some plants the latent viruses can cause disease when induced by stresses such as pruning, heat and drought, and may also be induced in seedlings if one of the parents has the latent virus in its genome. ‘Carrizo’ is a hybrid variety of citrus that is very widely used as a rootstock in Florida to grow both sweet orange and grapefruit. We have found several latent virus genomes in ‘Carrizo’ and we have some evidence that they are present as replicating viruses. We have determined the complete nucleotide sequence of the genomes of three of these viruses, and have deposited the sequence and related data at the National Center for Biotechnology Information. The three genomes are closely related to each other and to Petunia vein clearing virus, which causes disease in hybrid petunia. We do not know at this time if the viruses are associated with any diseases of citrus. We have detected them in the roots of healthy trees in an orange grove with a high incidence of a disease or disorder called ‘citrus blight’.

Technical Abstract: The complete genomes of three related endogenous pararetroviruses (EPRVs) were obtained by 454 sequencing of nucleic acid extracts from ‘Carrizo’citrange, used as a citrus rootstock. Numerous homologous sequences have been found in the sweet orange genome. The new EPRVs are most closely related to Petunia vein clearing virus.