Capulavirus and Grablovirus: two new genera in the family Geminiviridae

Abstract

Geminiviruses are plant-infecting single-stranded DNA viruses that occur in most parts of the world. Currently, there are seven genera within the family Geminiviridae (Becurtovirus, Begomovirus, Curtovirus, Eragrovirus, Mastrevirus, Topocuvirus and Turncurtovirus). The rate of discovery of new geminiviruses has increased significantly over the last decade as a result of new molecular tools and approaches (rolling-circle amplification and deep sequencing) that allow for high-throughput workflows. Here, we report the establishment of two new genera: Capulavirus, with four new species (Alfalfa leaf curl virus, Euphorbia caput-medusae latent virus, French bean severe leaf curl virus and Plantago lanceolata latent virus), and Grablovirus, with one new species (Grapevine red blotch virus). The aphid species Aphis craccivora has been shown to be a vector for Alfalfa leaf curl virus, and the treehopper species Spissistilus festinus is the likely vector of Grapevine red blotch virus. In addition, two highly divergent groups of viruses found infecting citrus and mulberry plants have been assigned to the new species Citrus chlorotic dwarf associated virus and Mulberry mosaic dwarf associated virus, respectively. These species have been left unassigned to a genus by the ICTV because their particle morphology and insect vectors are unknown.

Alfalfa leaf curl virus is transmitted by Aphis craccivora in a highly specific circulative manner

“…Geminiviruses of the genus Begomovirus are transmitted by whiteflies (i.e., Aleyrodidae) (Cohen and Nitzany, 1966), viruses of the genera Becurtovirus, Curtovirus, Mastrevirus, Turncurtovirus are transmitted by leafhoppers (i.e, Cicadellidae) (Heydarnejad et al, 2013;Horn et al, 1994;Briddon et al, 1992;Razavinejad et al, 2013) and those belonging to the genera Grablovirus and Topocuvirus are transmitted by treehoppers (i.e., Membracidae) (Bahder et al, 2016;Briddon et al, 1996). Interestingly, although Aphididae is the insect group with the highest number of species reported as vector of plant viruses, aphid transmission was discovered only in 2015 when aphids of the species Aphis craccivora Koch, 1854 (Aphididae) were shown to transmit Alfalfa leaf curl virus (ALCV), a geminivirus belonging to the newly defined genus Capulavirus (Roumagnac et al, 2015;Varsani et al, 2017). Since then, Plantago latent virus (PlLV) another capulavirus was shown to be transmitted by the aphid Dysaphis plantaginea (Passerini, 1860) (Susi et al, 2019) suggesting that aphid transmission is a taxonomic criterion of the new genus which comprises two additional members, Euphorbia caput-medusae Latent Virus (EcmLV) and French bean Severe Leaf Curl Virus (FbSLCV).…”

Mimic Phosphorylation of a βC1 Protein Encoded by TYLCCNB Impairs Its Functions as a Viral Suppressor of RNA Silencing and a Symptom Determinant

“…The family Geminiviridae is currently divided into nine genera, Becurtovirus, Begomovirus, Curtovirus, Eragrovirus, Mastrevirus, Topocuvirus, Turncurtovirus, Capulavirus, and Grablovirus, based on genome organization, host range, and insect vector (6). Whiteflytransmitted begomoviruses, with more than 200 species, constitute the largest genus of geminiviruses (4,7).…”

Identification of microRNAs regulated by tobacco curly shoot virus co-infection with its betasatellite in Nicotiana benthamiana

“…Geminiviridae has nine genera: Mastrevirus, Curtovirus, Begomovirus, Topocuvirus, Becurtovirus, Turncurtovirus, Eragrovirus, Capulavir, and Euphorbia [24]. The family Geminiviridae currently consists of 468 species, in which Begomovirus is the largest genus (https://talk.ictvonline.…”