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Identification and genomic characterization of a novel polymycovirus from Alternaria alternata causing watermelon leaf blight

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Abstract

A double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) mycovirus from the phytopathogenic fungus Alternaria alternata, which causes watermelon leaf blight, was characterized. The genome of this virus has eight dsRNA segments, ranging from 1039 bp to 2398 bp. DsRNAs 1-6 each contain a single large open reading frame (ORF), while dsRNAs 7 and 8 each dsRNA contain two ORFs. The RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRp) encoded by dsRNA1 and the viral methyltransferase encoded by dsRNA3 share 97.6% and 98.9% amino acid sequence identity, respectively, with the corresponding proteins of Plasmopara viticola lesion associated polymycovirus 1. The dsRNA5-encoded proline-alanine-serine-rich protein shows 48.1% sequence identity to that of Beauveria bassiana polymycovirus 3. The proteins encoded on dsRNAs 2, 4, and 8 have 99.7%, 98.2%, and 65.1% sequence identity, respectively, to the corresponding proteins of a mycovirus identified in Alternaria sp. FA0703 (AltR1). The proteins encoded by dsRNAs 6 and 7 do not match any known proteins of mycoviruses. Phylogenetic analysis of the RdRp domain showed that the virus clustered with members of the family Polymycoviridae. Based on these characteristics, the mycovirus was identified as a polymycovirus and designated as "Alternaria alternata polymycovirus 1" (AaPmV1). This is the first report of a polymycovirus associated with A. alternata.

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Acknowledgements

This work was financially supported by Beijing Innovation Consortium of Melon Research System (Grant no. BAIC10-2021).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. College of Plant Protection, China Agricultural University, No. 2 Yuanmingyuan West Road, Haidian District, Beijing, 100193, People’s Republic of China

    Guoping Ma, Chunyan Wu, Yuting Li, Yiran Mi, Tao Zhou, Can Zhao & Xuehong Wu

  2. Institute of Plant Protection, Shandong Academy of Agricultural Sciences/Shandong Key Laboratory of Plant Virology, Jinan, 250100, People’s Republic of China

    Guoping Ma

  3. College of Horticulture, China Agricultural University, Haidian District, Beijing, 100193, People’s Republic of China

    Can Zhao

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  1. Guoping Ma
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  2. Chunyan Wu
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  5. Tao Zhou
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  6. Can Zhao
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Correspondence to Can Zhao or Xuehong Wu.

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Ma, G., Wu, C., Li, Y. et al. Identification and genomic characterization of a novel polymycovirus from Alternaria alternata causing watermelon leaf blight. Arch Virol 167, 223–227 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00705-021-05272-y

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00705-021-05272-y

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