Data Mining Redefines the Timeline and Geographic Spread of Cotton Leafroll Dwarf Virus.

Cotton leafroll dwarf virus (CLRDV), a threat to the cotton industry, was first reported in the United States as an emergent pathogen in 2017. Phylogenetic analysis supports the hypothesis that U.S.

A Breakthrough in Kitavirids: Genetic Variability, Reverse Genetics, Koch's Postulates, and Transmission of Hibiscus Green Spot Virus 2.

Hibiscus green spot virus 2 (HGSV-2), a member of the genus (family ), is a positive-stranded RNA virus associated with leprosis-like symptoms in citrus and green spots on leaves in hibiscus. HGSV-2 has only been reported in Hawaii, and while it is speculated that mites in the genus might be responsible for its transmission, proper transmission assays have yet to be conducted. This study characterizes additional citrus and hibiscus isolates of HGSV-2 collected from two Hawaiian Islands.

In-silico prediction of RT-qPCR-high resolution melting for broad detection of emaraviruses.

Twenty-four species of RNA viruses contain members infecting economically important crops that are classified within the genus Emaravirus, family Fimoviridae. There are at least two other non-classified species that may be added. Some of these viruses are spreading rapidly and cause economically important diseases on several crops, raising a need for a sensitive diagnostic technique for taxonomic and quarantine purposes.

Molecular and Biological Characterization of a Novel Tobamovirus Infecting Sunn Hemp () in Hawaii.

Sunn hemp ( L.) cultivar Tropic Sun plants, stunted and displaying mottle and mosaic symptoms on foliage, were observed at a seed farm in Maui County, Hawaii. Lateral flow assays indicated the presence of either tobacco mosaic virus or a serologically related virus.

First detection and complete genome sequence of a new tobamovirus naturally infecting Hibiscus rosa-sinensis in Hawaii.

High-throughput sequencing was used to analyze Hibiscus rosa-sinensis (family Malvaceae) plants with virus-like symptoms in Hawaii. Bioinformatic and phylogenetic analysis revealed the presence of two tobamoviruses, hibiscus latent Fort Pierce virus (HLFPV) and a new tobamovirus with the proposed name "hibiscus latent Hawaii virus" (HLHV). This is the first report of the complete sequence, genome organization, and phylogenetic characterization of a tobamovirus infecting hibiscus in Hawaii.

Survey of Viruses Infecting in Hawaii.

Malabar spinach plants (, Basellaceae) with leaves exhibiting symptoms of mosaic, rugosity, and malformation were found in a community garden on Oahu, HI in 2018. Preliminary studies using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and reverse-transcription (RT)-PCR identified Basella rugose mosaic virus (BaRMV) in symptomatic plants. However, nucleotide sequence analysis of RT-PCR amplicons indicated that additional potyviruses were also present in the symptomatic Malabar spinach.

Examination of the Virome of Taro Plants Affected by a Lethal Disease, the Alomae-Bobone Virus Complex, in Papua New Guinea.

Alomae-bobone virus complex (ABVC) is a lethal but still understudied disease that is limited to the Solomon Islands and Papua New Guinea. The only virus clearly associated to ABVC is Colocasia bobone disease-associated virus (CBDaV). Taro () plants with and without symptoms of ABVC disease were sampled from two locations in Papua New Guinea and examined for viruses using high-throughput sequencing (HTS).

Complete genome organization and characterization of Hippeastrum latent virus.

The complete genome sequences of two carlaviruses were determined by high-throughput sequencing of RNA extracted from ringspot and mosaic, disease symptoms on leaves of spider lily plants (Crinum asiaticum, family Amaryllidaceae) growing as landscape plants in Hawaii. One, named Nerine latent virus (NeLV)-Hawaii with a genome of 8281 nucleotide exhibited the highest nucleotide identity and amino acid similarity of 95.5% and 96.

Exploring in-silico prediction for the development of a RT-qPCR-high resolution melting assay for the broad detection of emaraviruses.

High-resolution melting (HRM) has shown to be reliable for the detection, discrimination, and diagnosis of several diseases of plants, animals, and humans. The aim of this research was to explore the ability to predict HRM outputs when coupled to reverse transcription quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR). This research used the species in the Emaravirus genus as model to framework the development of genus-specific RT-qPCR-HRM assays.

Genome characterization of fig umbra-like virus.

The complete genome of a new umbra-like virus from edible fig (Ficus carica) was identified by high-throughput sequencing. Based on its similarity to umbra-like virus genome sequences available in GenBank, the proposed name of this new virus is "fig umbra-like virus" (FULV). The genome of full-length FULV-1 consists of 3049 nucleotides organized into three open reading frames (ORFs).

A novel ampelovirus associated with mealybug wilt of pineapple (Ananas comosus).

Mealybug wilt of pineapple (MWP) is the most important and complex viral disease affecting pineapple worldwide. High-throughput sequencing was conducted to characterize a new virus identified only in symptomatic pineapple plants and tentatively named pineapple mealybug wilt-associated virus 6 (PMWaV-6). Data analyses revealed a genome of 17,854 nucleotides with an organization resembling members of the genus Ampelovirus, family Closteroviridae.

Characterization of taro reovirus and its status in taro (Colocasia esculenta) germplasm from the Pacific.

Taro reovirus (TaRV) has been reported infecting taro (Colocasia esculenta) in the South Pacific, but information on the virus is limited. Here, we report the genome sequence of a reovirus infecting taro in Papua New Guinea that had 10 genomic segments ranging from 1.1 to 3.

A Virus Infecting Represents an Evolutionary Link Between Cileviruses and Higreviruses.

Hibiscus ( spp.) are popular ornamental and landscape plants in Hawaii which are susceptible to foliar diseases caused by viruses belonging to the genera and (family ). In this study, a virus infecting plants displaying foliar symptoms consistent with infection by a kitavirus, including yellow chlorotic blotches with a green perimeter, was characterized.

Novel Fig-Associated Viroid-Like RNAs Containing Hammerhead Ribozymes in Both Polarity Strands Identified by High-Throughput Sequencing.

Based on high-throughput sequencing (HTS) data, the existence of viroid-like RNAs (Vd-LRNAs) associated with fig trees grown in the Hawaiian Islands has been predicted. One of these RNAs has been characterized as a circular RNA ranging in size from 357 to 360 nucleotides. Structural and biochemical features of this RNA, tentatively named fig hammerhead viroid-like RNA (FHVd-LR), markedly resemble those previously reported for several viroids and viroid-like satellite RNAs (Vd-LsatRNAs), which are non-protein-coding RNAs infecting their hosts autonomously and in combination with a helper virus, respectively.

Identification and complete genomic sequence of a novel sadwavirus discovered in pineapple (Ananas comosus).

The complete genomic sequence of a putative novel member of the family Secoviridae was determined by high-throughput sequencing of a pineapple accession obtained from the National Plant Germplasm Repository in Hilo, Hawaii. The predicted genome of the putative virus was composed of two RNA molecules of 6,128 and 4,161 nucleotides in length, excluding the poly-A tails. Each genome segment contained one large open reading frame (ORF) that shares homology and phylogenetic identity with members of the family Secoviridae.

Characterization of Ti Ringspot-Associated Virus, a Novel Emaravirus Associated with an Emerging Ringspot Disease of .

Ti ringspot is an emerging foliar disease of the ti plant () in Hawaii that is quickly spreading throughout the islands. Symptoms include small chlorotic ringspots on leaves that often coalesce to form larger lesions. Although several virus species have been discovered in symptomatic plants, none have been associated with these symptoms.