title: Molecular characterization of a Melon necrotic spot virus strain that overcomes the resistance in melon and nonhost plants.
abstract: Resistance of melon (Cucumis melo L.) to Melon necrotic spot virus (MNSV) is inherited as a single recessive gene, denoted nsv. No MNSV isolates described to date (e.g., MNSV-Malpha5), except for the MNSV-264 strain described here, are able to overcome the resistance conferred by nsv. Analysis of protoplasts of susceptible (Nsv/-) and resistant (nsv/nsv) melon cultivars inoculated with MNSV-264 or MNSV-Malpha5 indicated that the resistance trait conferred by this gene is expressed at the single-cell level. The nucleotide sequence of the MNSV-264 genome has a high nucleotide identity with the sequences of other MNSV isolates, with the exception of its genomic 3'-untranslated region (3'-UTR), where less than 50% of the nucleotides are shared between MNSV-264 and the other two MNSV isolates completely sequenced to date. Uncapped RNAs transcribed from a full-length MNSV-264 cDNA clone were infectious and caused symptoms indistinguishable from those caused by the parental viral RNA. This cDNA clone allowed generation of chimeric mutants between MNSV-264 and MNSV-Malpha5 through the exchange of the last 74 nucleotides of their coat protein (CP) open reading frames and the complete 3'-UTRs. Analysis of protoplasts of susceptible and resistant melon cultivars inoculated with chimeric mutants clearly showed that the MNSV avirulence determinant resides in the exchanged region. The carboxy-termini of the CP of both isolates are identical; therefore, the avirulence determinant likely consists of the RNA sequence itself. We also demonstrated that this genomic region contains the determinant for the unique ability of the isolate MNSV-264 to infect noncucurbit hosts (Nicotiana benthamiana and Gomphrena globosa).
authors.affiliation: Estación Experimental La Mayora, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, 29750 Algarrobo-Costa, Málaga, Spain.
authors.forename: Juan A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Díaz
authors.forename: Cristina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Nieto
authors.forename: Enrique
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Moriones
authors.forename: Verónica
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Truniger
authors.forename: Miguel A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Aranda
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D001483:Base Sequence; D019184:Carmovirus / Q000235:genetics* / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D002874:Chromosome Mapping; D028462:Cucumis / Q000235:genetics / Q000821:virology*; D017343:Genes, Plant; D016679:Genome, Viral; D005838:Genotype; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D010935:Plant Diseases / Q000821:virology; D010944:Plants / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000821:virology; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000096:biosynthesis; D014158:Transcription, Genetic
chemical_list: D012367:RNA, Viral