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

Ti ringspot is an emerging foliar disease of the ti plant (Cordyline fruticosa) 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. Here, we report and characterize a novel virus closely associated with ti ringspot symptoms in Hawaii. The presence of double membrane bodies approximately 85 nm in diameter in symptomatic cells and sequence analyses of five genomic RNA segments obtained by high-throughput sequencing indicate that this virus is most closely related to members of the plant virus genus Emaravirus. Phylogenetic and sequence homology analyses place this virus on a distinct Glade within the Emaravirus genus along with High Plains wheat mosaic emaravirus, blue palo verde broom virus, and Raspberry leaf blotch emaravirus. Sequence identity values with taxonomically relevant proteins indicate that this represents a new virus species, which we are tentatively naming ti ringspot-associated virus (TiRSaV). TiRSaV-specific reverse transcription PCR assays detected the virus in several experimental herbaceous host species following mechanical inoculation. TiRSaV was also detected in eriophyid mites collected from symptomatic ti plants, which may represent a putative arthropod vector of the virus.