Identification of a second begomovirus, Sri Lankan cassava mosaic virus, causing cassava mosaic disease in India

The DNA A and DNA B components of a begomovirus associated with cassava mosaic disease (CMD) originating from Kerala, India, were cloned. Biolistically inoculated clones induced symptoms typical of CMD in cassava. Sequence comparisons showed the virus to be an isolate of Sri Lankan cassava mosaic virus (SLCMV). This is the first time this begomovirus species has been identified in India and only the second species shown to cause CMD in the country. The implication of these findings on our understanding of the diversity and geographic distribution of CMD-associated begomoviruses in the region and on efforts to obtain resistance to CMD are discussed.