Molecular diversity of the DNA-beta satellites associated with tomato leaf curl disease in India

DNA-beta satellites, referred to here as betasatellites, were found associated with tomato leaf curl disease (ToLCD) in India. The size of eight betasatellites isolated from different geographical locations in India varied from 1353 to 1424 nt; these molecules had an ORF beta C1, an adenine-rich region, and a satellite conserved region. Their nucleotide sequence identity varied from 45 to 93%. In phylogenetic analysis, these betasatellites grouped according to their geographic locations rather than the host species. Two new betasatellites, tomato leaf curl Bangalore betasatellite and tomato leaf curl Maharashtra betasatellite, were identified.