Molecular characterization of a begomovirus and betasatellite causing yellow vein net disease of Ageratum houstonianum

Ageratum houstonianum was introduced in India as an annual ornamental plant and is grown in beds for blue head flowers. Yellow vein net disease was observed on A. houstonianum plants with about 9.0% disease incidence during a survey in February 2012 at gardens of NBRI, Lucknow, India. Association of a begomovirus and betasatellite with the disease was characterized based on sequence analyses of their cloned full length genome isolated from diseased A. houstonianum. Sequence analysis of the begomovirus showed presence of the six open reading frames in its genome, similar to the arrangement of Old World begomoviruses. The begomoviral genome shared 95 to 97% sequence identities with various strains of Ageratum enation virus (AEV); however, it showed distinct phylogenetic relationships with them, and hence was identified as a variant of AEV based on more than 94% sequence homology, the criteria defined by ICTV. The sequence analysis of associated betasatellite revealed highest 93% sequence identity and close phylogenetic relationships with Ageratum leaf curl betasatellite (ALCB) molecules; therefore, it was identified as an isolate of ALCB (based on 93% sequence homology). Agroinfiltration of partial dimers of the AEV variant and ALCB induced similar systemic yellow vein net and leaf curl symptoms on A. houstonianum when infiltrated in combination, fulfilling Koch’s postulates. Characterization of AEV and ALCB causing yellow vein net disease of A. houstonianum is being reported for the first time.