A novel class of DNA satellites associated with New World begomoviruses

Begomoviruses (family Geminiviridae) are whitefly-transmitted plant DNA viruses that have been shown to be helper viruses for a number of distinct DNA satellites, including betasatellites and alphasatellites. Replication of the satellites interferes to some degree with replication of the helper and in some cases they affect the disease symptoms. To date, betasatellites and related molecules such as the satellite associated with Tomato leaf curl virus (ToLCV-sat), have only been associated with Old World begomoviruses. Here, we report the discovery and characterization of subviral molecules associated with bipartite begomoviruses from the New World, which constitute a novel class of DNA satellites, in two malvaceous plant species. These molecules, in addition to sharing some genetic features with betasatellites and ToLCV-sat, contain nucleotide stretches of begomoviral origin, presumably the remains of recombination events involved in their origin.