The complete nucleotide sequence of Squash leaf curl China virus-[Wax gourd] and its phylogenetic relationship to other geminiviruses

Geminivirus, which causes yellow leaf curl disease of wax gourd plants, was detected using polymerase chain reaction with geminivirus-specific primers. The complete genomic sequence of a geminivirus isolated from wax gourd was determined by sequencing overlapping DNA fragments. The genome consisted of 2739 nucleotides, contained 5 open reading frames (ORFs) typical of geminiviruses, 2 ORFs on the viral sense and three ORFs on the complementary sense strand. The geminivirus isolated from wax gourd plants showed high sequence identity (94%) with that of DNA-A of Squash leaf curl China virus-Thailand [Thailand] (SLCCNV-TH[TH]). These data suggest that wax gourd yellow leaf curl disease in Nakhon Pathom was caused by SLCCNV. Based on sequence comparisons and phylogenetic tree analyses, the virus isolate studied was identified as a new strain of SLCCNV and named Squash leaf curl China virus-[Thailand:Wax Gourd:2008] (SLCCNV-[TH:Wax:08]).