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ARS Home » Northeast Area » Washington, D.C. » National Arboretum » Floral and Nursery Plants Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #379141
Research Project: Detection, Identification, and Characterization of New and Emerging Viral and Bacterial Diseases of Ornamental Plants

Location: Floral and Nursery Plants Research

Title: Create two new species in genus Pelarspovirus (Tolivirales: Tombusviridae)

Author
item SCHEETS, KAY - Oklahoma State University
item Jordan, Ramon

Submitted to: Electronic Publication
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 2/1/2021
Publication Date: 3/8/2021
Citation: Scheets, K., Jordan, R.L. 2021. Create two new species in genus Pelarspovirus (Tolivirales: Tombusviridae). Electronic Publication. https://doi.org/.

Interpretive Summary: The International Committee on the Taxonomy of Viruses (ICTV) is charged with the task of developing, refining, and maintaining a universal virus taxonomy. Viruses, including those that are pathogens of plants, are mainly classified by phenotypic characteristics, such the size and shape of the virus, nucleic acid size and type (DNA or RNA), genome organization, mode of replication, host(s), and the type of disease they cause. The creation or elimination, (re)naming, and (re)assignment of a virus species, genus, (sub)family, or order are all taxonomic acts that require public scrutiny and debate, leading to formal approval by the full membership of the ICTV. In 2014 our proposal to create a new genus Pelarspovirus, in the family Tombusviridae, was approved by ICTV. Since then, ARS scientists in Beltsville, MD, along with collaborators in Hawaii discovered and characterized US isolates of two new viruses infecting Jasmine and have determined their complete genome sequences. These two viruses met the species demarcation for inclusion in the genus Pelarspovirus, family Tombusviridae. This report is the next step: a proposal to ICTV demonstrating that there is sufficient molecular and phylogenetic support to add two new virus members to the genus Pelarspovirus.

Technical Abstract: Two new pelarspoviruses infecting Jasminum sp have been found. Jasmine virus H was found in many areas of China, and USA states of Hawaii, California, and Maryland. Jasmine mosaic-associated virus has been found in Hawaii and Washington DC. Both viruses have been characterized and their complete genome sequences determined. There is sufficient molecular and phylogenetic support indicating that these two viruses met the species demarcation to propose the addition of these two new virus members to the genus Pelarspovirus, family Tombusviridae.