Sequences of Citrus Tristeza Virus Separated in Time and Space Are Essentially Identical

• DOI: 10.1128/jvi.74.15.6856-6865.2000
• Publication Date: 2002-07-27T10:06:23Z
• Authors: María R. Albiach...; Munir Mawassi; Siddarame Gowda; Tatineni Satyanar...; Mark E. Hilf; Savita Shanker; Ernesto C. Almira; María C. Vives; Carmelo López; Jose Guerri; Ricardo Flores; Pedro Moreno; Steve M. Garnsey; William O. Dawson
• Keywords: Citrus tristeza virus; Sequence (biology); Strain (injury)

ABSTRACT The first Citrus tristeza virus (CTV) genomes completely sequenced (19.3-kb positive-sense RNA), from four biologically distinct isolates, are unexpectedly divergent in nucleotide sequence (up to 60% divergence). Understanding of whether these large differences resulted recent evolution is important for the design disease management strategies, particularly use genetically engineered mild (essentially symptomless)-strain cross protection and RNA-mediated transgenic resistance. complete a isolate (T30) which has been endemic Florida about century was found be nearly identical genomic (T385) Spain. Moreover, samples sequences other isolates geographic locations, maintained different citrus hosts also separated time (B252 Taiwan, B272 Colombia, B354 California), were T30 sequence. between within or near range variability population. A possible explanation results that parents T30, T385, B252, B272, have common origin, probably Asia, changed little since they dispersed throughout world by movement citrus. Considering divergence among known CTV much greater than those expected strains same virus, remarkable similarity five indicates high degree evolutionary stasis some populations.