Genome analysis and biological characterization of Moroccan pepper virus (MPV), and reclassification of Lettuce necrotic stunt virus as MPV
W. M. WINTERMANTEL (1). (1) USDA ARS, Salinas, CA, U.S.A.
<i>Moroccan pepper virus</i> (MPV) and <i>Lettuce necrotic stunt virus</i> (LNSV) have been steadily increasing in prevalence in central Asia and western North America, respectively over the past decade, and are responsible for diseases of lettuce, tomato, pepper and some floral crops. Sequence analysis of a California LNSV isolate and three isolates of MPV demonstrated 97% genomic identity between LNSV and MPV, and 97 to 100% identity in the coat protein, which is usually quite divergent among distinct members of the genus. Aside from one another, the closest relative of both viruses appears to be <i>Tomato bushy stunt virus</i>, sharing 82% genomic identity and 65% identity in the coat protein. A full-length clone of a California LNSV isolate was developed and virus derived from infectious transcripts was used to evaluate host plant reactions under controlled conditions. Symptoms of LNSV matched those described previously for MPV on most of a select series of host plants although some differences were observed. Collectively these molecular and biological results demonstrate that LNSV should be classified as MPV within the family <i>Tombusviridae</i>, genus <i>Tombusvirus</i>, and confirm the presence of MPV in North America.
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