First report of a whitefly-transmitted geminivirus infecting Mimosa invisa in Malaysia

Abstract

A begomovirus was detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) in the weed Mimosa invisa, collected from vegetable- and fruit-growing areas of the Malaysia Peninsula. The infected plants displayed yellowing and stunting symptoms. Sequencing of the 1.3-kb PCR amplicon showed that this virus has greatest sequence similarity (92%) to Ageratum yellow vein china virus, a white-fly transmitted begomovirus not yet identified in Malaysia. This is the first report of a begomovirus infection in the potential weedy reservoir, M. invisa.