The Molecular Characterization of a New Prunus-Infecting Cheravirus and Complete Genome Sequence of Stocky Prune Virus

Viruses. 2022 Oct 23;14(11):2325. doi: 10.3390/v14112325.

Abstract

As part of a virome characterization of Prunus species, a novel cheravirus was discovered in two wild species, Prunus brigantina and P. mahaleb, and in an apricot (P. armeniaca) accession. The sequence of the two genomic RNAs was completed for two isolates. The Pro-Pol conserved region showed 86% amino acid (aa) identity with the corresponding region of trillium govanianum cheravirus (TgCV), a tentative Cheravirus member, whereas the combined coat proteins (CPs) shared only 40% aa identity with TgCV CPs, well below the species demarcation threshold for the genus. This suggests that the new virus should be considered a new species for which the name alpine wild prunus virus (AWPV) is proposed. In parallel, the complete genome sequence of stocky prune virus (StPV), a poorly known cheravirus for which only partial sequences were available, was determined. A phylogenetic analysis showed that AWPV, TgCV and StPV form a distinct cluster, away from other cheraviruses.

Keywords: alpine wild prunus virus; cheravirus; high-throughput sequencing; phylogenetic analysis; prunus; stocky prune virus; stone fruit.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Genome, Viral
  • Phylogeny
  • Plant Diseases
  • Prunus*
  • RNA, Viral / genetics
  • Secoviridae* / genetics
  • Viruses* / genetics

Substances

  • RNA, Viral

Grants and funding

This study was funded by the European Union through the Horizon 2020 Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions Innovative Training Network (H2020 MSCA- 60 ITN) project “INEXTVIR” (Grant agreement number 813542). The plant indexing biological tests conducted by CTIFL were funded by INTERFEL (Fresh fruit and vegetable interprofessional association).