Complete genome sequence of a novel potato virus S strain infecting Solanum phureja in Colombia

Abstract

Potato virus S (PVS) (genus Carlavirus, family Betaflexiviridae) is one of the most prevalent viruses in potato crops (Solanum tuberosum and S. phureja) around the world, causing reductions in crop yields between 10 and 20%. Symptoms of PVS infection may include leaf mottling, rugosity of leaves, deepening of the veins and reductions in crop yields between 10 and 20%. Virions are flexuous rods of 610-710nm with a positive-sense ssRNA genome of approximately 8500 nt comprising six ORFs, a 5'CAP and a 3'poly-A tail. PVS has been classified into two groups: PVS(O) (Ordinary) and PVS(A) (Andean). PVSA induces severe symptoms in infected plants, such as premature senescence and defoliation, and is more efficiently transmitted by aphids than PVS(O). To date, only five PVS genomes have been completely sequenced, including those of three PVS(O) and two PVS(A) strains. Currently, there are no reports of complete PVS genome sequences from Andean South America. In this work, we present the complete genomic sequence of a novel PVS strain infecting S. phureja that is clearly distinct from currently known PVS isolates.