Effects of recombination on the pathogenicity and evolution of pepper mottle virus

Abstract

The analysis of the full length genome of Korean isolates of Pepper mottle virus (PepMoV) in previous study showed molecular variations and are found to be related to symptom variation and pathogenicity (Kim et al., 2009, Virus Res. 144:83-88). To fully understand the molecular variation of PepMoV in Korea, we further assessed the role of ENA recombination to biological variation and evolution of PepMoV. Full-length genome of a total of 17 Korean-PepMoV and 2 American (CA and FL) isolates were examined for possible detection of genetic recombination using different recombination detections programs and detected 5 and 8 tentative recombination events using RDP3 and Splits Tree4 programs, respectively. Interestingly, tentative recombinants detected such as isolates 57,134 and 217 were previously identified as severe isolates and 205135 and 205136 as differentiating isolates (Kim et al., 2009, Virus Res. 144:83-88). In addition, recombination was frequently detected in the Vb isolate, the first PepMoV isolate reported in Korea, suggesting significant involvement in the evolution of PepMoV in Korea. These initial results of our recombination analyses among PepMoV isolates in Korea may serve as clues to further investigate the biological variations and evolution of PepMoV brought about by recombination. © The Korean Society of Plant Pathology.