Novel cytohabdovirus identified in native Rubus exhibiting virus-like symptoms

Authors: GUZMAN, MELINDA - Oregon State University; DI BELLO, PATRICK - Oregon State University; Martin, Robert

Submitted to: Phytopathology
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 3/2/2018
Publication Date: 4/9/2018
Citation: Guzman, M., Di Bello, P., Martin, R.R. 2018. Abstract for the International Congress of Plant Pathology 7/29/18-8/3/18 in Boston, MA. 352-P

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Raspberry Leaf Curl Disease (RLCD) was first reported in the late 19th century and has been reported widely in red and black raspberry and blackberry across northeastern United States and Canada through 1970. It is transmitted by the small raspberry aphid, Aphis rubicola, in a persistent manner. It is the one virus of Rubus spp. that requires bioassays for movement of plant material. Symptoms include small fruit, stunted shoots, leaf chlorosis, and downward curling of the leaves for which the disease is named. In a survey of native Rubus in eastern Canada and northeastern U.S., six viruses have been identified in symptomatic wild raspberry plants using next generation sequencing. These include Black raspberry necrosis, Rubus yellow net, Raspberry leaf mottle, a novel Enamovirus and two novel Cytorhabdoviruses. It should be noted that none of these viruses was consistently associated with symptoms observed in native Rubus. Here we present information on a Cytorhabdoviruses, isolated from a Pennsylvania sample. Primers were developed and used to test Rubus samples obtained from the area where the disease occurs and the virus was also was detected in a sample from Ontario, Canada. We obtained 14 kb of the genome of this Cytorhabdovirus, which shares 46% amino acid (aa) sequence identity to Alfalfa dwarf virus, whereas, the second Cytorhabdovirus is most similar to Raspberry vein chlorosis virus sharing 76% aa identity.