Occurrence of a new recombinant begomovirus species infecting tomato in the Al‐Batinah region of Oman

• Published in: Plant pathology Vol. 63; no. 5; pp. 1177 - 1184
• Main Authors: Al‐Shihi, A. A. M, Khan, A. J, Akhtar, S, Lima, A. T. M, Zerbini, F. M, Briddon, R. W
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford Blackwell Scientific Publications, etc 01.10.2014; Blackwell; Wiley Subscription Services, Inc
• Subjects: Agronomy. Soil science and plant productions; Begomovirus; Biological and medical sciences; clones; commercial farms; Croton; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Geminiviridae; genetic variability; leaf curling; Lycopersicon esculentum; Oman; Phytopathology. Animal pests. Plant and forest protection; Plant viruses and viroids; recombination; tomatoes; viruses; Oman; Persian gulf states; Arabian Peninsula; West Asia; Asia; Middle east; Plant pathology; Recombination; Vegetables; Genetic variability; Plant pathogen; Tropical zone; Climacteric; Fruit vegetable; Begomovirus; Tomato; Climatic zone; Oman; Arab countries; Dicotyledones; Angiospermae; Lycopersicon esculentum; Geminiviridae; Solanaceae; C3-Type; DNA virus; Species; Vegetals; Arid environment; Virus; Vegetable crop; Arid region; Spermatophyta
• ISSN: 0032-0862; 1365-3059
• DOI: 10.1111/ppa.12185

Whitefly‐transmitted begomoviruses are the most important limiting factor for tomato cultivation in Oman, particularly in the Al‐Batinah region, the major agricultural area of the country. Commercial farms in the Al‐Batinah region were surveyed during January–March 2013. Samples of tomato showing leaf curl disease symptoms typical of begomoviruses were collected and analysed. Full‐length sequences of five clones were shown to have relatively low percentage identity values to known begomoviruses, with the highest (88·6%) to isolates of Tomato leaf curl Oman virus (ToLCOMV), a begomovirus previously reported in Oman, indicating that these represent a newly identified species, for which the name Tomato leaf curl Barka virus (ToLCBrV) is proposed. Four isolates of ToLCBrV were found associated with Tomato leaf curl betasatellite (ToLCB). The five isolates of ToLCBrV characterized in this study were shown to be recombinants, with ToLCOMV as the major parent, and a fragment of Croton yellow vein virus (CrYVV) spanning the 3′ half of the replication‐associated protein. The significance of these findings is discussed.