The tobacco mosaic virus (TMV) 30K movement protein (MP) gene was inserted into a full-length cDNA clone of barley stripe mosaic virus (BSMV) RNA beta replacing the triple gene block (TGB). The resulting recombinant ND-MPT genome, consisting of infectious wt transcripts of BSMV RNAs alpha and gamma, together with the hybrid RNA beta transcript, was inoculated onto test plants to study the funct...

Virus-like symptoms were recently observed on leaves of landscape and nursery downy and star jasmine (Jasminum multijlorum) and wax jasmine (J. gracile) in southeast Florida. Foliar symptoms included mottling, chlorotic ring spots and chlorotic line patterns. An agent was mechanically transmitted with difficulty from symptomatic leaves of downy jasmine to Nicotiana debneyi and N. tabacum 'Xanth...

The complete genome sequence of a new tomato-blistering mosaic virus (ToBMV) isolate was determined. This tymovirus isolate was first described infecting tobacco during the 1980s, but it also infects other Solanaceae members experimentally. The genome has 6,257 nucleotides and shares 88% nucleotide identity with the ToBMV isolated from tomato.

Nicotiana benthamiana often displays more intense symptoms after infection by RNA viruses than do other Nicotiana species. Here, we examined the role of RNA-dependent RNA polymerases (RdRPs) in N. benthamiana antiviral defense. cDNAs representing only two genes encoding RdRPs were identified in N. benthamiana. One RdRP was similar in sequence to SDE1/SGS2 required for maintenance of transgene s...

Chia (Salvia hispanica), an herbaceous plant native to Latin America, has become important in the last 20 years due to its beneficial effects on health. Here, we present the first record and identification of two viruses in chia plants. The comparison of the complete nucleotide sequences showed the presence of two viral species with the typical genome organization of bipartite New World begomov...

Geminiviruses package single-stranded circular DNA and replicate via double-stranded DNA intermediates. During the past decade, increasing evidence has led to the general acceptance that their replication follows a rolling-circle replication mechanism like bacteriophages with single-stranded DNA. In a recent study, we showed that this is also true for Abutilon mosaic geminivirus (AbMV), but tha...

Cross protection is the phenomenon through which a mild strain virus suppresses symptoms induced by a closely related severe strain virus in infected plants. Hibiscus latent Singapore virus (HLSV) and Tobacco mosaic virus (TMV) are species within the genus tobamovirus. HLSV can protect Nicotianabenthamiana against TMV-U1 strain, resulting in mild symptoms instead of severe systemic necrosis. Th...

Andalusia, southern Spain, is a major horticultural production region within the Mediterranean, where over 10,000 ha are dedicated to the production of pepper (Capsicum annuum L.). Approximately two-thirds of the area dedicated to this crop is in a greenhouse and the remaining one-third is comprised of open field crops. Using pepper as a model, we identified and compared the major diseases caus...