Complete nucleotide sequence of the genomic RNA of a French isolate of Pepino mosaic virus (PepMV)

The complete nucleotide sequence of the genomic RNA of a French isolate of Pepino mosaic virus (PepMV) was determined. With a length of 6425 nucleotides excluding the poly(A) tail at the 3' terminus, the PepMV genome contains five major open reading frames encoding a 164 kDa replicase, triple gene block proteins of 26 kDa, 14 kDa and 9 kDa, and a 25 kDa coat protein. This genome organization, as well as characteristic consensus motifs and high degrees of similarity of PepMV proteins with those of other potexviruses confirmed that PepMV belongs to the Potexvirus genus. Phylogenetic analyses carried out on replicase, triple gene block protein 1 and coat protein amino acid sequences revealed that PepMV is closely related to species Narcissus mosaic virus (NMV), Scallion virus X (SVX), Cymbidium mosaic virus (CymMV), and Potato aucuba mosaic virus (PAMV).