Authors
Scott
Adkins
and
Ivanka
Kamenova
,
U.S. Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service, U.S. Horticultural Research Laboratory, 2001 South Rock Road, Fort Pierce, FL 34945
; and
Diann
Achor
,
Citrus Research and Education Center
, and
Dennis J.
Lewandowski
,
Department of Plant Pathology, University of Florida, 700 Experiment Station Road, Lake Alfred 33850
ABSTRACT
Tobamoviruses are among the best characterized and most studied plant viruses. Three subgroups of tobamoviruses correspond to viral genome sequence and host range to include those viruses infecting (i) solanaceous plants, (ii) brassicas, or (iii) cucurbits or legumes. We isolated a virus from Florida landscape plantings of the malvaceous plant hibiscus (Hibiscus rosasinensis) that appears to be a tobamovirus based upon its virion morphology, genome organization, and coat protein sequence. The experimental host range of this virus included five malvaceous species but excluded all tested brassica, cucurbit, and legume species and 12 of the 19 solanaceous species tested. The unique host range and comparison of coat protein gene and protein sequences with those of recognized tobamoviruses indicate that this is a novel to-bamovirus. A limited survey revealed that this virus is widespread in hibiscus and related species in the Florida landscape.
