Characterization of a new begomovirus from Egypt infecting hollyhock (Althea rosea)

A viral isolate from Egypt associated with symptoms of enations and leaf curling on hollyhock (Althea rosea) was characterized at the cytopathological and molecular levels. Microscopic observations showed that enations resulted from a reorganization of the vascular tissues, including activation of a cambial activity in the phloem, the development of a palisade parenchyma in place of a spongy one and the differentiation of minor vascular tissues. From this isolate, the full-length DNA-A of a begomovirus (family Geminiviridae) was cloned and sequenced. This genome exhibited a genetic organization similar to that of other old-world begomoviruses like Tomato yellow leaf curl virus from Israel and Ageratum yellow vein virus from Singapore. However, its sequence was significantly distinct (similarity < 69%) from any other geminivirus. This begomovirus was thus considered as representative of a new viral species named Althea rosea enation virus (AREV). AREV was agroinfectious on Nicotiana benthamiana, on which it induced a severe leaf-curling and vein distortion, but could not re-establish infection on A. rosea. To determine if AREV was also associated with a similar disease affecting okra in Upper-Egypt, the partial sequence of the coat protein gene of an isolate was determined. It exhibited 90% nt identity with the hollyhock isolate (97% amino acid), suggesting a genetic heterogeneity in the begomovirus population associated with the enation diseases.