Abstract
A new member of the genus Potexvirus was fully sequenced and characterized. The virus was isolated from babaco (Vasconcellea x heilbornii), a natural hybrid native to Ecuador. The virus contains a 6,692 nt long genome organized in five open reading frames in an arrangement typical of other potexviruses. Sequence comparisons revealed close relatedness with Papaya mosaic virus (PapMV), Alternathera mosaic virus (AltMV) and Senna mosaic virus (SenMV), exhibiting nucleotide identities up to 67% for the polymerase (Pol) and 68% for the coat protein (CP), with deduced amino acid identities of 70% and 72% for the Pol and CP, respectively. The presence of an AlkB domain, in the polymerase region, was observed. Terminal nucleotide sequences were conserved across potexviruses with characteristic motifs and predicted secondary structures at the 3’ UTR. Although serologically undistinguishable from PapMV and AltMV, the new virus showed differences in host range and symptom induction. The name babaco mosaic virus is proposed for this newly characterized Potexvirus. The complete genome sequence of the new virus has been deposited in NCBI GenBank under accession number MF978248.
Highlights
Babaco (Vasconcellea x heilbornii) is a natural interspecific hybrid of V. stipulata and V. pubescens in the family Caricacea
Sequence comparisons revealed close relatedness with Papaya mosaic virus (PapMV), Alternathera mosaic virus (AltMV) and Senna mosaic virus (SenMV), exhibiting nucleotide identities up to 67% for the polymerase (Pol) and 68% for the coat protein (CP), with deduced amino acid identities of 70% and 72% for the Pol and CP, respectively
80 sequence reads were assembled into five contigs showing sequence homology to several members of the potexvirus genus, with Alternathera mosaic virus, AltMV, as the closest relative
Summary
Babaco (Vasconcellea x heilbornii) is a natural interspecific hybrid of V. stipulata and V. pubescens in the family Caricacea. The plant, formerly known as Carica pentagona due to its peculiar pentagon-shaped fruits, is an herbaceous shrub that can grow up to 2.5 meters in height and has morphological characteristics similar to those of its close relative papaya (Carica papaya). Native to subtropical mountains of southern Ecuador, babaco has been introduced and grown at small scale in Australia, New Zealand, United States, Italy and Spain, among others. In addition to its exotic flavour, the babaco latex has been demonstrated to have lipase activity higher than that of papaya, showing its potential industry use [1]. In the last two decades, babaco demand for local fresh market has increased considerably and its production has become the main income source for hundreds of small growers in different provinces of Ecuador.
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