Archives of Virology (2011) 156, 2205-2213

Sarah J.C. da Silva, Gloria P. Castillo-Urquiza, Braz T. Hora Júnior, Iraildes P. Assunção, Gaus S.A. Lima, Gilvan Pio-Ribeiro, Eduardo S.G. Mizubuti and F. Murilo Zerbini (2011)
High genetic variability and recombination in a begomovirus population infecting the ubiquitous weed Cleome affinis in northeastern Brazil
Archives of Virology 156 (12), 2205-2213
Abstract: Diseases caused by begomoviruses are a serious constraint to crop production in many tropical and subtropical areas of the world, including Brazil. Begomoviruses are whitefly-transmitted, single-stranded DNA viruses that are often associated with weed plants, which may act as natural reservoirs of viruses that cause epidemics in crop plants. Cleome affinis (family Capparaceae) is an annual weed that is frequently associated with leguminous crops in Brazil. Samples of C. affinis were collected in four states in the northeast of Brazil. Analysis of 14 full-length DNA-A components revealed that only one begomovirus was present, with 91-96% identity to cleome leaf crumple virus (ClLCrV). In a phylogenetic tree, ClLCrV forms a basal group relative to all other Brazilian begomoviruses. Evidence of multiple recombination events was detected among the ClLCrV isolates, which also display a high degree of genetic variability. Despite ClLCrV being the only begomovirus found, its phylogenetic placement, high genetic variability and recombinant nature suggest that C. affinis may act as a source of novel viruses for crop plants. Alternatively, ClLCrV could be a genetically isolated begomovirus. Further studies on the biological properties of ClLCrV should help to clarify the role of C. affinis in the epidemiological scenario of Brazilian begomoviruses.
(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): F. Murilo Zerbini, Eduardo S.G. Mizubuti

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

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Pest and/or beneficial records:

Beneficial	Pest/Disease/Weed	Crop/Product	Country	Quarant.
	Cleome affinis (weed)		Brazil (NE)