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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 #266665
Title: Solanaceous vegetables in Florida infected with a novel M RNA reassortant of Groundnut ringspot virus and Tomato chlorotic spot virus

Author
item Adkins, Scott
item Webster, Craig
item Reitz, Stuart
item PERRY, KEITH - Cornell University
item FRANTZ, GALEN - Glades Crop Care
item MELLINGER, CHARLES - Glades Crop Care

Submitted to: Legume Viruses Working Group Proceedings
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 4/15/2011
Publication Date: 5/14/2011
Citation: Adkins, S.T., Webster, C.G., Reitz, S.R., Perry, K.L., Frantz, G., Mellinger, C.H. 2011. Solanaceous vegetables in Florida infected with a novel M RNA reassortant of Groundnut ringspot virus and Tomato chlorotic spot virus. Legume Viruses Working Group Proceedings. Abstract.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: We recently identified Groundnut ringspot virus (GRSV) using serology and nucleocapsid gene sequence from tomato plants with severe tospovirus symptoms in south Florida. This extends the geographic range of this virus from South America and South Africa to now include North America. Full genome sequence analysis demonstrated that the Florida GRSV isolate was actually an M RNA reassortant with the S and L RNA segments derived from GRSV but with the M RNA segment derived from Tomato chlorotic spot virus (TCSV), a related but genetically distinct tospovirus species described in South America. This is the first report of a natural reassortant (dubbed LGMTSG) between two tospovirus species. Regions of each of the three genomic RNA segments were sequenced to confirm that the LGMTSG genotype was present in tomato samples collected in five south Florida counties starting in December 2009. The LGMTSG genotype was also detected in pepper and tomatillo with typical tospovirus symptoms in several south Florida locations in December 2010 and in tomato in a sixth south Florida county in March 2011. Western flower thrips (Frankliniella occidentalis) transmitted the LGMTSG genotype and other locally important thrips species are currently being investigated for their ability to transmit this virus. Neither parental genotype (GRSV or TCSV) nor alternate reassorted genotypes have been detected in any samples. These results suggest that LGMTSG was introduced to Florida in its current form and that reassortment between distinct tospovirus species may be more frequent than previously thought.