New viruses of vegetable crops: Physostegia chlorotic mottle virus, African eggplant-associated virus, and African eggplant yellowing virus
The following new viruses have recently been described in different parts of the world on vegetable crops.
- Physostegia chlorotic mottle virus (Alphanucleorhabdovirus, PhCMoV - Alphanucleorhabdovirus physostegiae)
PhCMoV was first identified by high throughput sequencing from Physostegia virginiana (Lamiaceae) in Austria in 2018, and later in Germany and Serbia on tomatoes (Solanum lycopersicum) showing severe fruit mottling and ripening anomalies. Further studies showed that PhCMoV is also present in Belgium, France, the Netherlands, Romania, Russia, and Slovenia. Although most of these detections are recent, re-analysis of samples from 2002 showed that this virus was already present in France. PhCMoV can infect important crops (S. lycopersicum, S. melongena, and Cucumis sativus), as well as emerging crops in Europe (Ipomoea batatas and Stachys affinis) and weeds. It can cause severe fruit symptoms. Further studies are conducted to better understand the reasons behind the emergence of this virus and identify its potential vectors.
- African eggplant-associated virus (Tobamovirus, AEaV)
A new Tobamovirus, tentatively named African eggplant-associated virus (AEaV) was identified in a symptomatic fruit of Solanum macrocarpon imported from Mexico into the Netherlands in 2018. Inoculation studies showed that AEaV can infect a number of solanaceous plants including tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) and pepper (Capsicum spp.), as well as eggplant (Solanum melongena) and petunia (Petunia hybrida) and cause symptoms (e.g. chlorosis, rugosity, leaf curling). As AEaV was controlled by resistant genes used in tomato and pepper crops, the risk of infection and subsequent impact on these crops was assessed to be low in Europe. However, assessment of the potential threat to eggplant, petunia, and other susceptible species needs further work.
- African eggplant yellowing virus (Polerovirus, AeYV)
A new Polerovirus tentatively named African eggplant yellowing virus was identified in Benin on symptomatic Capsicum spp. as well as in Mali in African eggplants (Solanum aethiopicum). In 2019, AeYV was first reported from tomato (S. lycopersicum) in Côte d’Ivoire. Whereas the majority of poleroviruses are vectored by aphids, there are suspicions that whiteflies may also play a role in the transmission of AeYV.
Sources
Giesbers AK, Roenhorst A, Schenk MF, Westenberg M, Botermans M (2023) African eggplant-associated virus: Characterization of a novel tobamovirus identified from Solanum macrocarpon and assessment of its potential impact on tomato and pepper crops. PLos ONE 18(4), e0277840. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0277840
N’cho AJ, Séka K, Bele L, Diallo H, Martin T, Coulibaly N, Fondio L, Hoareau M, Lefeuvre P, Lett JM (2023) First report of African eggplant yellowing virus on tomato exhibiting necrotic yellowing symptoms in Northern Côte d’Ivoire. Plant Disease 107(2), 590. https://doi.org/10.1094/PDIS-05-22-1016-PDN
Temple C, Blouin AG, De Jonghe K, Foucart Y, Botermans M, Westenberg M, Schoen R, Gentit P, Visage M, Verdin E, Wipf-Scheibel C (2022) Biological and genetic characterization of Physostegia chlorotic mottle virus in Europe based on host range, location, and time. Plant Disease 106(11), 2797-2807. https://doi.org/10.1094/PDIS-12-21-2800-RE