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ARS Home » Pacific West Area » Corvallis, Oregon » Horticultural Crops Research Unit » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #224936
Title: Characterization of Verbena virus Y, a New Component in the Complex Causing Necrosis in Verbena 'Taylortown Red'

Author
item TZANETAKIS, I - OREGON STATE UNIVERSITY
item CLEVELAND, S - OREGON STATE UNIVERSITY
item KRAUS, J - OREGON STATE UNIVERSITY
item PUTNAM, M - OREGON STATE UNIVERSITY
item Martin, Robert

Submitted to: Phytopathology
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 5/21/2008
Publication Date: 6/1/2008
Citation: Tzanetakis, I.E., Cleveland, S., Kraus, J., Putnam, M.L., Martin, R.R. 2008. Characterization of Verbena virus Y, a new component in the complex causing necrosis in Verbena 'Taylortown Red'. Phytopathology. 98:S160.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: A ‘ Taylortown Red’ verbena plant from Michigan showed mottling symptoms that progressed to necrosis as leaves matured. The plant was assayed and was found positive for double-stranded RNA, indicative of virus infection, which was cloned and sequenced. Three viruses were identified: Broad bean wilt virus-1, Coleus vein necrosis virus and a new potyvirus, the subject of this communication. The complete nucleotide sequence of the potyvirus, referred to as Verbena virus Y (VVY) was determined. The virus polyprotein has the typical Potyvirus-associated protein motifs indicating that VVY is a typical member of the genus. Phylogenetic analysis showed that VVY is most closely related to potyviruses that infect solanaceous plants and has greatest similarity to Potato virus Y and Pepper mottle virus with about 60% nucleotide and amino acid sequence identity. In an effort to determined whether VVY is the causal agent of the necrosis observed in ‘Taylor Town’, we did mechanical inoculations onto indicator plants to separate the three viruses infecting the plant. None of the 12 species inoculated with ‘Taylortown Red’ tissue were singly infected with VVY and the only plants that sustained infections belonged to the Solanaceae. Trials are under way using aphid vectors to separate the three viruses and reconstruct symptoms leading to the identification of the causal agent(s) of the disease.