The DNA-1 like alphasatellites in association with the bipartite Mungbean yellow mosaic virus in natural infections

Abstract

Yellow mosaic disease is the major limitation in the production of grain legumes in India. This disease is caused by bipartite begomovirus, Mungbean yellow mosaic virus. In addition to the bipartite genomic components, the yellow mosaic disease affected urdbean plants which contain satellite like DNA-1 component called as alphasatellites. The present study has been attempted to characterise the alphasatellites associated with Mungbean yellow mosaic virus. Nucleotide sequence analysis of alphasatellites showed 98% identity with Vernonia yellow vein Fijian alphasatellite, VYVFA (JF733780). Since the sequence identity is more than 98%, the threshold value for demarcation of alphasatellites species, the alphasatellites of the present study are named as Vernonia yellow vein Fijian alphasatellite. Comparison with other, alphasatellites shared 51–55% identity with alphasatellites associated with monopartite begomovirus and it shared only 41–42% identity with an unusual alphasatellites, DNA-2. This is the first report on characterisation of alphasatellites associated with Mungbean yellow mosaic virus.

Keywords:

• yellow mosaic disease
• grain legumes
• leaf distortion
• alphasatellite
• begomovirus

Acknowledgements

The authors are grateful for the facilities provided by The Director of Research, TNAU, The Director, CPPS and Professor and Head, Department of Plant Pathology for conducting the study. The financial assistance by the Department of Biotechnology, Government of India is duly acknowledged. The senior author (VKS) is thankful to The Dean, PG School, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University for his valuable guidance.