Multiple begomoviruses infecting soybean; a case study in Faisalabad, Pakistan

During a routine inspection of fields at Faisalabad, Pakistan, symptoms of begomovirus infection were observed on soybean plants. Viruses from symptomatic soybean plants were isolated and characterized by Sanger sequencing. Multiple bipartite and monopartite begomoviruses were identified that include Mungbean yellow mosaic India virus, Mungbean yellow mosaic virus, Pedilanthus leaf curl virus, Cherry tomato leaf curl virus, Tomato leaf curl Kerala virus, and Cotton leaf curl Kokhran virus. Among these viruses, the Mungbean yellow mosaic India virus was the most abundant virus followed by Pedilanthus leaf curl virus. The presence of DNA satellites associated with begomoviruses such as alphasatellites and betasatellites were also investigated. The alphasatellites identified were Ageratum yellow vein India alphasatellite, Guar leaf curl alphasatellite and Tomato leaf curl alphasatellite. Three betasatellites including Papaya leaf curl betasatellite, Tomato leaf curl betasatellite, and Cotton leaf curl Multan betasatellite were also identified. The infection of these multiple begomoviruses associated with multiple DNA satellites pose a serious threat to production of soybean as well as to other legume crops. The current findings of multiple begomoviruses and satellites in soybean demand for developing broad-spectrum resistant cultivars of soybean in future breeding programs.

Automated summary

During a routine inspection in Faisalabad, Pakistan, begomovirus infection was found on soybean plants. Multiple bipartite and monopartite begomoviruses, including Mungbean yellow mosaic India virus, Mungbean yellow mosaic virus, Pedilanthus leaf curl virus, Cherry tomato leaf curl virus, Tomato leaf curl Kerala virus, and Cotton leaf curl Kokhran virus, were identified. The presence of alphasatellites and betasatellites associated with begomoviruses was also investigated. The infection of these multiple begomoviruses and satellites poses a serious threat to soybean and other legume crop production, highlighting the need for developing resistant cultivars in future breeding programs.