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ARS Home » Pacific West Area » Corvallis, Oregon » Horticultural Crops Disease and Pest Management Research Unit » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #416611
Research Project: Knowledge Based Tools for Exotic and Emerging Diseases of Small Fruit and Nursery Crops

Location: Horticultural Crops Disease and Pest Management Research Unit

Title: Genomic characterization and survey of a second luteovirus infecting blueberry

Author
item TOPHAM, KATHERINE - Oregon State University
item Stockwell, Virginia
item Grinstead, Samuel
item Mollov, Dimitre

Submitted to: Virus Research
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 10/4/2024
Publication Date: 10/26/2024
Citation: Topham, K., Stockwell, V.O., Grinstead, S.C., Mollov, D.S. 2024. Genomic characterization and survey of a second luteovirus infecting blueberry. Virus Research. 350. Article 199480. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.virusres.2024.199480.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.virusres.2024.199480

Interpretive Summary: The complete genome sequence of a new member of the family Tombusviridae was detected in blueberry (Vaccinium corymbosum L.) by high throughput sequencing. The new virus was tentatively named blueberry virus M (BlVM). The complete genome of BlVM is 5,018 nt with four putative open reading frames. Unlike most luteoviruses, BlVM does not have readily identifiable movement proteins. Sequence comparison and phylogenetic analysis support the classification of BlVM as a new member of the genus Luteovirus, family Tombusviridae. A survey of 2,654 samples from industry, a germplasm repository, breeding, and other research program plantings in the Pacific Northwest found 37 BlVM-positive plants collected from three Oregon locations.

Technical Abstract: Blueberries are an important commodity in the U.S. with the majority of the crop grown in the Pacific Northwest. Blueberry plants are susceptible to plant viruses that can reduce production and general plant health. We discovered and described a new virus in a declining Oregon blueberry field. A total of 15 genomic sequences of the virus were obtained and a detection assay was developed. A survey of over 2,654 samples from Oregon and Washington revealed that the virus was present in three Oregon locations. These findings will facilitate monitoring virus distribution and determining disease symptoms associated with this new and emerging blueberry virus.