Identification of a novel monopartite begomovirus associated with leaf curl disease of Citharexylum spinosum in India

Abstract

Abstract The present study reports the complete genome of a novel monopartite begomovirus, named tentatively as “Citharexylum leaf curl virus” (CitLCuV), associated with leaf curl disease of Citharexylum spinosum in India. CitLCuV genome (2,767 nucleotide) contained the typical genome organization of Old World begomoviruses and shared the maximum nucleotide sequence identity of 89.2% with a rose leaf curl virus (RoLCuV) isolate. In addition, two small non-canonical open reading frames (C5 and C6) were determined in the complementary strand of CitLCuV genome. Phylogenetic analysis revealed the relatedness of CitLCuV to papaya leaf crumple virus and RoLCuV. Recombination analysis detected a possible recombination event in CitLCuV genome. Based on begomovirus species demarcation criteria, CitLCuV can be regarded as a novel begomoviral species.