Identification of a distinct strain of cotton leaf curl burewalavirus

3^rd International Conference and Exhibition on Metabolomics & Systems Biology

March 24-26, 2014 Hilton San Antonio Airport, San Antonio, USA

Muhammad Tahir, Malik Nawaz Shuja and Rob W Briddon

Accepted Abstracts: Metabolomics

Abstract :

Cotton leaf curl disease (CLCuD) is the major limitation to cotton production in Pakistan. The disease is associated with several distinct begomoviruses of which Cotton leaf curl Burewala virus(CLCuBuV)is the most widespread in Pakistan at this time. An infected cotton leaf sample (isolate C-49) showing downward leaf curl and enations was collected from areas around Layyah, a cotton growing region, in Pakistan during 2012. The complete nucleotide sequences of the components of one isolate were determined. The complete sequence of the virus was determined to be 2751bp, exhibited the arrangement of genes typical of an Old World begomovirus, and showed the highest nucleotide sequence identity (92.1%) to CLCuBuV, confirmingit to belong to a distinct strain of CLCuBuV. The complete nucleotide sequence of the associated betasatellite was determined to be 1350bp and showed 98% nucleotide sequence identity to cotton leaf curl multanbetasatellite (EU384601).The partial tandem repeat constructs were produced and infectivity was shown by Agrobacterium -mediated inoculation to Nicotianabenthamiana. Since cotton is a major crop in Pakistan, the evolution of new strains of the predominant begomovirusspecies in the country shows that the virus is changing and may continue to affect cotton production.