Cohombrillo-associated virus: a novel virus infecting Ecballium elaterium plants

We determined the complete genome sequence of a new virus infecting Ecballium elaterium ('cohombrillo amargo') plants, a weed species common on the borders of cultivated fields in the Mediterranean region. The genome of this virus is composed of two molecules of monocistronic positive-sense RNA, 6,934 and 3,501 nucleotides in length, excluding their poly(A) tails. The highest amino acid sequence similarity (50 % identity) in the Pro-Pol core region encoded by RNA 1 was observed in the corresponding protein of strawberry latent ringspot virus. Based on pairwise comparisons and phylogenetic analysis, this virus, tentatively named cohombrillo-associated virus (CoAV), appears to be a member of a new species in the genus Stralarivirus (family Secoviridae), for which the name Stralarivirus elaterii is proposed. This new virus has different putative cleavage patterns from members of other species belonging to this genus.

Automated summary

We identified and characterized a new virus, named cohombrillo-associated virus (CoAV), that infects Ecballium elaterium plants. The genome of CoAV consists of two molecules of positive-sense RNA, with lengths of 6,934 and 3,501 nucleotides. Phylogenetic analysis suggests that CoAV belongs to a new species in the Stralarivirus genus and is closely related to strawberry latent ringspot virus.