An Unwanted Association: The Threat to Papaya Crops by a Novel Potexvirus in Northwest Argentina

TORRES, CAROLINA; TRUCCO, VERÓNICA; BADARACCO, ALEJANDRA; QUITO-AVILA, DIEGO; DEBAT, HUMBERTO; SÁNCHEZ-RODRÍGUEZ, AMINAEL; JARAMILLO ZAPATA, MARGARITA; ORTIZ, CLAUDIO; NOME, CLAUDIA; CASTELLANOS COLLAZO, ONIAS; CABRERA MEDEROS, DARIEL; PORTAL, ORELVIS; FLORES, CEFERINO; ACUÑA, LUIS; BEJERMAN, NICOLAS; GIOLITTI, FABIÁN

Viruses

MDPI

Año: 2022 vol. 14

An emerging virus isolated from papaya (Carica papaya) crops in northwestern (NW) Argentina was sequenced and characterized using next-generation sequencing. The resulting genome is 6667-nt long and encodes five open reading frames in an arrangement typical of other potexviruses. This virus appears to be a novel member within the genus Potexvirus. Blast analysis of RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRp) and coat protein (CP) genes showed the highest amino acid sequence identity (67% and 71%, respectively) with pitaya virus X. Based on nucleotide sequence similarity and phylogenetic analysis, the name papaya virus X is proposed for this newly characterized potexvirus that was mechanically transmitted to papaya plants causing chlorotic patches and severe mosaic symptoms. Papaya virus X (PapVX) was found only in the NW region of Argentina. This prevalence could be associated with a recent emergence or adaptation of this virus to papaya in NW Argentina.