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ARS Home » Pacific West Area » Parlier, California » San Joaquin Valley Agricultural Sciences Center » Crop Diseases, Pests and Genetics Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #412934
Research Project: Development of Applied Management Systems for Diseases of Perennial Crops with Emphasis on Vector-Borne Pathogens of Grapevine and Citrus

Location: Crop Diseases, Pests and Genetics Research

Title: Genome sequence of dahlia mosaic virus revisted: molecular characterization and genetic diversity of DMV and dahlia common mosaic virus

Author
item GNANASEKARAN, PRABU - Washington State University
item Zhai, Ying
item PAPPU, HANU - Washington State University

Submitted to: Archives of Virology
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 10/10/2025
Publication Date: 12/20/2025
Citation: Gnanasekaran, P., Zhai, Y., Pappu, H.R. 2025. Genome sequence of dahlia mosaic virus revisted: molecular characterization and genetic diversity of DMV and dahlia common mosaic virus. Archives of Virology. 171. Article 31. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00705-025-06478-0.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00705-025-06478-0

Interpretive Summary: Dahlia is a specialty ornamental crop with its high value flowers. Dahlia mosaic disease affects dahlia plants growing in Australia, Canada, Japan, New Zealand, United Kingdom, United States, and several parts of the world. Dahlia mosaic diseases is caused by two viruses known as dahlia mosaic virus (DMV) and dahlia common mosaic virus (DCMV). The complete genome sequences of only one isolate of DMV and three isolates of DCMV are available. To better understand these viruses, in 2022 we tested dahlia plants growing across the country for DMV and/or DCMV. We amplified the complete genome of DMV and DCMV sequences from DMV and/or DCMV positive dahlia plant samples from regions of the United States. Our results revealed that the nucleotide sequence identity of polyprotein within DMV isolates is 98%, and the same identity was found within DCMV isolates. However, the polyprotein coding sequence showed around 80 % identity between DMV and DCMV isolates.

Technical Abstract: Dahlia mosaic virus (DMV) and dahlia common mosaic virus (DCMV) are the members of caulimovirus that infect dahlia plants. In this study, we have derived the complete genome sequence of both DMV and DCMV isolates from the cultivated dahlias (Dahlia variabilis) growing in different geographical locations of the United States. We performed phylogenetic and Splitstree analysis based on complete genome sequences or polyprotein coding sequences of all available DMV and DCMV isolates. Our findings indicate a very high percentage of sequence identity among intra-DMV and intra-DCMV isolates with over 98% polyprotein coding sequence identity. On the other hand, nucleotide sequence identity between individual genes of DMV and DCMV ranged from 59% to 81%, with the polyprotein (ORF) coding sequence showing around 80% identity between DMV and DCMV isolates. This observed genetic incongruity raises the question if using the ORF5 as the criteria for species demarcation within the caulimovirus group is valid.