title: Novel begomovirus species of recombinant nature in sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas) and Ipomoea indica: taxonomic and phylogenetic implications.
abstract: Viral diseases occur wherever sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas) is cultivated and because this crop is vegetatively propagated, accumulation and perpetuation of viruses can become a major constraint for production. Up to 90% reductions in yield have been reported in association with viral infections. About 20 officially accepted or tentative virus species have been found in sweet potato and other Ipomoea species. They include three species of begomoviruses (genus Begomovirus, family Geminiviridae) whose genomes have been fully sequenced. In this investigation, we conducted a search for begomoviruses infecting sweet potato and Ipomoea indica in Spain and characterized the complete genome of 15 isolates. In addition to sweet potato leaf curl virus (SPLCV) and Ipomoea yellowing vein virus, we identified three new begomovirus species and a novel strain of SPLCV. Our analysis also demonstrated that extensive recombination events have shaped the populations of Ipomoea-infecting begomoviruses in Spain. The increased complexity of the unique Ipomoea-infecting begomovirus group, highlighted by our results, open new horizons to understand the phylogeny and evolution of the family Geminiviridae.
authors.affiliation: Estación Experimental 'La Mayora', Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, 29760 Algarrobo-Costa, Málaga, Spain.
authors.forename: Gloria
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Lozano
authors.affiliation: Estación Experimental 'La Mayora', Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, 29760 Algarrobo-Costa, Málaga, Spain.
authors.forename: Helena P
authors.initials: HP
authors.lastname: Trenado
authors.affiliation: Department of Plant Pathology and Crop Physiology, Louisiana State University Agricultural Center, Baton Rouge, LA 70803, USA.
authors.forename: Rodrigo A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Valverde
authors.affiliation: Estación Experimental 'La Mayora', Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, 29760 Algarrobo-Costa, Málaga, Spain.
authors.forename: Jesús
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Navas-Castillo
mesh_terms: D053839:Begomovirus / Q000145:classification* / Q000235:genetics*; D003001:Cloning, Molecular; D016679:Genome, Viral; D027741:Ipomoea / Q000821:virology*; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D010802:Phylogeny; D010935:Plant Diseases / Q000821:virology; D016865:Reassortant Viruses / Q000145:classification* / Q000235:genetics*; D013030:Spain