Six novel begomoviruses infecting tomato and associated weeds in Southeastern Brazil

The incidence of tomato-infecting begomoviruses has sharply increased in Brazil following the introduction of the B biotype of the whitefly vector in the early 1990s. Five definitive species and six tentative species have been described since then. Here, we report the detection of members of an additional six novel species, three in tomato and three infecting weeds that are commonly associated with tomato fields: Blainvillea rhomboidea, Sida rhombifolia and Sida micrantha. Tomato and weed samples were collected in two major tomato-growing regions of southeastern Brazil in 2005 and 2007. Two of the novel viruses were present in tomato plants collected in Paty do Alferes, Rio de Janeiro state. Three novel viruses were present in weed samples collected in Coimbra, Minas Gerais state. One virus was present in tomato samples collected at both locations. Genome features indicate that all six species are typical New World, bipartite begomoviruses. However, the viruses belonging to two of the novel species did not cluster with the Brazilian viruses in a phylogenetic tree. These species could represent a distinct lineage of New World begomoviruses, found in Brazil for the first time

Complete genome sequence of a new bipartite begomovirus infecting Macroptilium lathyroides in Brazil

A distinct bipartite begomovirus was isolated in northeastern Brazil infecting Macroptilium lathyroides showing symptoms of yellow mosaic. The complete genome (DNA-A and DNA-B) of the virus was cloned using rolling circle amplification and subsequently sequenced. Clones presented the typical genomic organization of a New World bipartite begomovirus. Based on the current taxonomic criteria established for the genus Begomovirus, the virus corresponds to a new species, showing highest nucleotide identity with other Brazilian begomoviruses that infect leguminous hosts. In phylogenetic analysis the virus clustered with bean golden mosaic virus. Recombination events were not detected. We propose the name Macroptilium common mosaic virus (MacCMV) for the virus reported in this study

Two new begomoviruses that infect non-cultivated malvaceae in Brazil

A high diversity of begomoviruses that infect non-cultivated plants has been noted in Brazil. Here, we report the complete sequences of two new species of bipartite begomoviruses from Sida sp. plants collected in the state of Piauí, northeastern Brazil. The genomes of these viruses show a genomic organization that is typical of New World begomoviruses. In phylogenetic analysis, two closely related viruses (sida angular mosaic virus, SiAMV and sida chlorotic vein virus, SiCVV) clustered with other begomoviruses described in tomato and Sida plants in Brazil. Evidence of recombination is shown among isolates of the species described