Network Analysis of the Papaya Orchard Virome from Two Agroecological Regions of Chiapas, Mexico

Abstract

Virus-virus interactions in plants can modify host symptoms. As a result, disease management strategies may be unsuccessful if they are based solely on visual assessment and diagnostic assays for known individual viruses. Papaya ringspot virus is an important limiting factor for papaya production and likely has interactions with other viruses that are not yet known. Using high-throughput sequencing, we recovered known and novel RNA and DNA viruses from papaya orchards in Chiapas, Mexico, and categorized them by host and, in the case of papaya, symptom type: asymptomatic papaya, papaya with ringspot virus symptoms, papaya with nonringspot symptoms, weeds, and insects. Using network analysis, we demonstrated virus associations within and among host types and described the ecological community patterns. Recovery of viruses from weeds and asymptomatic papaya suggests the need for additional management attention. These analyses contribute to the understanding of the community structure of viruses in the agroecological landscape.