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Broad bean wilt virus Causes Necrotic Symptoms and Generates Defective RNAs in Capsicum annuum

First, sixth, seventh, and eighth authors: Department of Life Science, Pohang University of Science and Technology, Pohang 790-784, Korea; second and third authors: Division of Biological Environment, Kangwon National University, Chunchon 200-701, Korea; fourth author: Department of Agricultural Biology, Chonnam National University, Kwangju 500-757, Korea; and fifth author: The Biological Research Information Center, Pohang University of Science and Technology, Pohang 790-784, Korea

A virus was isolated from hot pepper (Capsicum annuum cv. Hyang Chon) growing in Korea and displaying necrotic spots or streaks on leaves and stems followed by stunting and death of plants. Morphological and host range analyses of extracts from infected plants suggested that the causal agent of disease was a Broad bean wilt virus (BBWV), and the virus was tentatively named a Korean isolate of BBWV (BBWV-K). When the isolate was back-inoculated onto hot pepper plants, it induced symptoms similar to those of naturally infected hot pepper in the field. Two coat proteins (CPs) of 44 and 22 kDa, corresponding to a large CP and a small CP, respectively, were identified from the virus, and both reacted specifically with polyclonal antibody to BBWV 2. The complete nucleotide sequences of RNA 1 and RNA 2 of the isolate were determined from cDNA clones. The deduced amino acid sequence data from the putative proteins encoded by RNA 1 and 2 of the BBWV-K indicated a closer relationship with the isolates of BBWV 2 than BBWV 1. However, sequence comparison of the 5′ noncoding regions of the viruses differentiates BBWV-K from other BBWV 2 isolates. Another distinctive feature of the BBWV-K is that it generates defective RNAs in hot pepper exhibiting necrotic symptoms, which is the first report of defective RNAs in the Fabavirus genera of BBWVs.

Additional keywords: classification, necrotic disease.