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Updated: May 28, 2026

Localization and Quantification of Begomoviruses in Whitefly Tissues by Immunofluorescence and Quantitative PCR
Published on: February 8, 2020
High genetic variability and recombination in a begomovirus population infecting the ubiquitous weed Cleome affinis
Sarah J C da Silva1, Gloria P Castillo-Urquiza, Braz T Hora Júnior
1Departamento de Fitopatologia/BIOAGRO, Universidade Federal de Viçosa, MG, Brazil.
Abstract:
Diseases caused by begomoviruses are a serious constraint to crop production in many tropical and subtropical areas of the world, including Brazil. Begomoviruses are whitefly-transmitted, single-stranded DNA viruses that are often associated with weed plants, which may act as natural reservoirs of viruses that cause epidemics in crop plants. Cleome affinis (family Capparaceae) is an annual weed that is frequently associated with leguminous crops in Brazil. Samples of C. affinis were collected in four states in the northeast of Brazil. Analysis of 14 full-length DNA-A components revealed that only one begomovirus was present, with 91-96% identity to cleome leaf crumple virus (ClLCrV). In a phylogenetic tree, ClLCrV forms a basal group relative to all other Brazilian begomoviruses. Evidence of multiple recombination events was detected among the ClLCrV isolates, which also display a high degree of genetic variability. Despite ClLCrV being the only begomovirus found, its phylogenetic placement, high genetic variability and recombinant nature suggest that C. affinis may act as a source of novel viruses for crop plants. Alternatively, ClLCrV could be a genetically isolated begomovirus. Further studies on the biological properties of ClLCrV should help to clarify the role of C. affinis in the epidemiological scenario of Brazilian begomoviruses.
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