Begomoviruses (family Geminiviridae) cause serious diseases in many economic crops and weeds globally. This study characterized a begomovirus isolated from a tobacco plant with leaf curl in Puer, Yunnan Province, China. Analysis of the viral genome obtained from a diseased Nicotiana tabacum plant showed a novel monopartite begomovirus. The DNA-A-like sequence (2741 nt) has the typical Old World monopartite begomovirus genome organization, sharing the highest nucleotide sequence identity (81.2%) with that of Tomato yellow leaf curl Vietnam virus (TYLCVV). According to the current International Committee on Taxonomy of Viruses (ICTV )taxonomic criteria, this is a new species of begomovirus for which the name "Tobacco leaf curl Puer virus" is proposed. Main TextViruses in the family Geminiviridae can cause grievous economic losses to many crops worldwide [1, 2]. The geminivirus genome consists of one (monopartite) or two (bipartite) circular single-stranded DNA molecules that are encapsidated within geminated icosahedral particles [3]. Geminiviruses are classi ed into nine genera based on their host ranges, insect vectors, and genome structures: Becurtovirus, Begomovirus, Capulavirus, Curtovirus, Eragrovirus, Grablovirus, Mastrevirus, Topocuvirus, and Turncurtovirus. Begomovirus is the largest genus in this family, with more than 400 members [4]. Under natural conditions, begomoviruses are transmitted only by white ies of the Bemisia tabaci complex [5], and are known as white y-transmitted geminiviruses [6].

Begomoviruses (family Geminiviridae) cause serious diseases in many economic crops and weeds globally. This study characterized a begomovirus isolated from a tobacco plant with leaf curl in Puer, Yunnan Province, China. Analysis of the viral genome obtained from a diseased Nicotiana tabacum plant showed a novel monopartite begomovirus. The DNA-A-like sequence (2741 nt) has the typical Old World monopartite begomovirus genome organization, sharing the highest nucleotide sequence identity (81.2%) with that of Tomato yellow leaf curl Vietnam virus (TYLCVV). According to the current International Committee on Taxonomy of Viruses (ICTV )taxonomic criteria, this is a new species of begomovirus for which the name “Tobacco leaf curl Puer virus” is proposed.