Abstract
Chickpea chlorotic dwarf virus (CpCDV), a polyphagous mastrevirus, family Geminiviridae, has been recently linked to the onset of the “hard fruit syndrome” of watermelon, first described in Tunisia, that makes fruits unmarketable due to the presence of white hard portions in the flesh, chlorotic mottling on the rind, and an unpleasant taste. To investigate the etiological agent of this disease, total RNA extracted from symptomatic watermelon fruits was subjected to small RNA sequencing through next generation sequencing (NGS) techniques. Data obtained showed the presence of CpCDV and two other viral species. However, following validation through polymerase chain reaction (PCR), CpCDV was the only viral species consistently detected in all samples. Watermelon seedlings were then challenged by an agroinfectious CpCDV clone; several plants proved to be CpCDV-infected, and were able to produce fruits. CpCDV infected and replicated in watermelon fruits and leaves, leading to abnormality in fruits and in seed production, similar to those described in field. These results indicate that CpCDV is the etiological agent of the “hard fruit syndrome” of watermelon.
Highlights
Watermelon (Citrullus lanatus) production in the world accounted to about 111 million tons in2014 (Food and Agriculture Organization Corporate Statistical Database), with China being the top producer
We recently suggested that Chickpea chlorotic dwarf virus (CpCDV) is the etiological agent of WHFS; CpCDV, as with other geminiviruses, is considered to be a dangerous emerging virus, with a high we investigated this issue in depth on diseased fruits using an next generation sequencing (NGS) approach
We recently suggested that CpCDV is the etiological agent of WHFS; we investigated this issue in depth on diseased fruits using an NGS approach
Summary
Watermelon (Citrullus lanatus) production in the world accounted to about 111 million tons in. A rolling-circle amplification assay, able to amplify the circular genome of single-stranded (ss) DNA viruses (such as geminiviruses) was performed on fruit samples showing typical symptoms, collected through years in different areas of Tunisia This led to the unexpected identification of another ssDNA virus, Chickpea chlorotic dwarf virus, DNAaretinum), viruses (such as it was the Middle the Indian chickpea where geminiviruses) was performed on fruit samples showing typical symptoms, collected through years originally described [4], several pulse crops, staple food for millions of people, have been found in different areas of Tunisia This led to the unexpected identification of another ssDNA virus, infectedChickpea by CpCDV, such as faba bean (Vicia faba), lentil (Lens culinaris), bean (Phaseolus vulgaris) chlorotic dwarf virus, (CpCDV, genus Mastrevirus, family Geminiviridae) [2]. We recently suggested that CpCDV is the etiological agent of WHFS; we investigated this issue in depth on diseased fruits using an NGS approach
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