Identification, Characterization, and Detection of a Novel Strawberry Cytorhabdovirus

Abstract

In 2020, a novel agent was discovered in strawberry, a rhabdovirus closely related to lettuce necrotic yellows virus. The new virus, named strawberry virus 2 (StrV-2), was discovered in an accession of the Fragaria virus collection of the National Clonal Germplasm Repository (NCGR), and for this reason, it was studied in-depth. The complete StrV-2 genome was obtained and investigated in silico. Transmission was assessed using two aphid species whereas a multiplex RT-PCR test targeting plant and virus genes was developed and used to screen the NCGR Fragaria virus collection.