Archives of Virology (2002) 147, 745-762

S. Hauser, M. Stevens, M. Beuve and O. Lemaire (2002)
Biological properties and molecular characterization of Beet chlorosis virus (BChV)
Archives of Virology 147 (4), 745-762
Abstract: Two distinct viruses belonging to the Polerovirus genus, in the family Luteoviridae, have been described as being able to induce mild yellowing on sugar beet: Beet mild yellowing virus (BMYV) and more recently, beet chlorosis virus (BChV). We have analysed biological properties and molecular organisation of two strains of BChV, one collected in England and the second from California. The biological data suggested that BChV displayed a narrower host range compared to BMYV and Beet western yellows virus lettuce isolate (BWYV). The complete genomic RNA sequence of the American isolate BChV-California and the European isolate BChV-2a showed a genetic organisation and expression typical of other Polerovirus members including 6 open reading frames (ORFs). Interspecific and intraspecific phylogenetic studies suggested that BChV arose by recombination events between a Polerovirus-like ancestor donating P0 and the replicase complex and either a BMYV or a BWYV progenitor providing the 3' ORFs [3, 4 and 5]. The 5'- and 3'-parts of the BChV genome have evolved differently in the two continents, possibly due to different selection pressures to allow adaptation to the various environments, hosts and vectors. BChV is a distinct species of the Polerovirus genus.
(The abstract is excluded from the Creative Commons licence and has been copied with permission by the publisher.)
Link to article at publishers website
Database assignments for author(s): Olivier Lemaire, Mark Stevens

Research topic(s) for pests/diseases/weeds:
molecular biology - genes
general biology - morphology - evolution

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Pest and/or beneficial records:

Beneficial	Pest/Disease/Weed	Crop/Product	Country	Quarant.
	Beet chlorosis virus	Beet/sugarbeet (Beta vulgaris)	United Kingdom
	Beet chlorosis virus	Beet/sugarbeet (Beta vulgaris)	U.S.A. (SW)