Taxonomy, molecular phylogeny and evolution of plant reverse transcribing viruses (family Caulimoviridae) inferred from full-length genome and reverse transcriptase sequences

This study constitutes the first evaluation and application of quantitative taxonomy to the family Caulimoviridae and the first in-depth phylogenetic study of the family Caulimoviridae that integrates the common origin between LTR retrotransposons and caulimoviruses. The phylogenetic trees and PASC analyses derived from the full genome and from the corresponding partial RT concurred, providing strong support for the current genus classification based mainly on genome organisation and use of partial RT sequence as a molecular marker. The PASC distributions obtained are multimodal, making it possible to distinguish between genus, species and strain. The taxonomy of badnaviruses infecting banana (Musa spp.) was clarified, and the consequence of endogenous badnaviruses on the genetic diversity and evolution of caulimoviruses is discussed. The use of LTR retrotransposons as outgroups reveals a structured bipolar topology separating the genus Badnavirus from the other genera. Badnaviruses appear to be the most recent genus, with the genus Tungrovirus in an intermediary position. This structuring intersects the one established by genomic and biological properties and allows us to make a correlation between phylogeny and biogeography. The variability shown between members of the family Caulimoviridae is in a similiar range to that reported within other DNA and RNA plant virus families

Effect of biosolids from municipal sewage sludge composted with rice husk on soil functionality

Two different biosolids were obtained composting anaerobic (A) and aerobic (B) municipal sewage sludge (SS) with rice husk. Higher amounts of SS (1:1 v/v) could be used in this composting process than in conventional ones. The two biosolids were characterized by chemical analysis and compared with a conventional green manure plus municipal solid waste and municipal SS compost. The effect of these products on soil functionality was studied in a 14- week incubation experiment by their addition to two different soils (silty clay—Ustic Endoaquert—and sandy loam—Aquic Xeropsamment). The total organic C ranged from 20 to 26 % and total N from 1.6 to 2.5 % in the two biosolids. The most relevant difference was due to dissolved organic C that was lower in the anaerobic biosolid (1 mgCkg−1) than in the other products (5–6 mgCkg−1). The total trace elements (Cd, Cr, Cu, Ni, Pb and Zn) contents were under the limits fixed by the European legislation for soil application of SS (EC Directive 86/278/EEC, 1986). The three biosolids did not show strong negative effects on soil functionality during the incubation experiment, although some significant differences were found. The aerobic biosolid B mainly increased cumulative N release, microbial activity, basal respiration rate, microbial biomass-C-tototal organic C ratio, β-glucosidase, alkaline phosphomonoesterase and aryl-sulphatase activities. The anaerobic one (B) decreased basal respiration rate, microbial biomass-C-to-total organic C ratio and aryl-sulphatase activity. DTPA soil bioavailable heavy metals were not affected by biosolids additions