NASCIMENTO, Ana Verônica Silva do.; SOUZA, Ana Raquel Ribeiro e.; ZERBINI, Poliane Alfenas.; ANDRADE, Genira Pereira.; CARVALHO, Murilo G.; PIO-RIBEIRO, Gilvan.; ZERBINI JUNIOR, Francisco Murilo.
Abstract:
Leaf samples of yellow passionfruit plants (Passiflora edulis
f. flavicarpa) showing woodiness symptoms in the fruit were collected
in fields located in the states of Pernambuco, Paraíba and Sergipe.
Virus infection was confirmed by serology and inoculation of indicator
plants. The six viral isolates obtained from passionfruit were capable
of infecting several plant species, although a difference in the intensity
of symptoms induced by each isolate was observed in some hosts.
Indirect ELISA showed that the passionfruit isolates were serologically
related to each other, and also to the potyvirus Cowpea aphid-borne
mosaic virus (CABMV). The amino acid sequence of the capsid
protein was determined for the six isolates. Sequence comparisons
with other potyviruses indicated a maximum degree of identity with
CABMV (86 to 94%). Sequence identity with isolates of Passionfruit
woodiness virus (PWV) ranged from 68 to 76%. Phylogenetic analysis
based on the amino acid sequences confirmed that the Brazilian
passionfruit isolates are closely related to CABMV, and only distantly
related to PWV. Together, these results indicate that the potyvirus
isolates obtained from passionfruit comprise a strain of CABMV
