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Novel Bevemovirus and Celavirus Identified in the Striga

hermonthica RNA-Seq Data

Dongjin Choi¹, Chaerim Shin¹, Yoonsoo Hahn¹*

¹Department of Life Science, Chung-Ang University, Seoul 06974, Korea

Potyvirids (family Potyviridae) are the largest family of plant RNA viruses. Two novel potyvirid viruses, Striga-
associated poty-like virus 1 (SaPlV1) and Striga-associated poty-like virus 2 (SaPlV2), were identified from the RNA-

Seq data of purple witchweed (Striga hermonthica). SaPlV1 was most closely related to bellflower vein mottle virus
(BVMoV), the only member of the genus Bevemovirus, and then to macluraviruses (genus Macluravirus). The SaPlV1

genome encodes a 2462-amino acid (aa) polyprotein that may be cleaved into nine mature peptides. The cleavage
sites of SaPlV1, BVMoV, and macluravirus polyproteins shared strong sequence similarities. SaPlV2 was most closely

related to celery latent virus, the sole species of the genus Celavirus, which is the most divergent potyvirid genus.
The SaPlV2 polyprotein contained 3329 aa; it may be cleaved into at least seven or eight mature peptides.

Phylogenetic analysis suggested that SaPlV1 and SaPlV2 may be novel species of the genera Bevemovirus and
Celavirus, respectively. The genome sequences of SaPlV1 and SaPlV2 are useful resources for studying the genome

evolution of potyvirids.