EVIDENCE THAT BANANA BUNCHY TOP VIRUS HAS A MULTIPLE COMPONENT GENOME

A 93 nucleotide sequence was found to be strongly conserved between two ssDNA genomic components of banana bunchy top virus (BBTV). Two outwardly extending degenerate primers were designed from this sequence and used in a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) with DNA extracted from purified BBTV virions. PCR amplified products consisting of at least seven distinct bands all approximately 1 kb and possibly representing full-length BBTV dsDNA were resolved. The PCR amplified products were cloned and the clones screened by restriction enzyme analysis. Four distinct restriction analysis groups were identified. These results confirm that the genome of BBTV contains at least five components and that it belongs to a previously undescribed group of plant viruses which may also contain subterranean clover stunt virus.