Rapid evolutionary dynamics of pepper mild mottle virus

Area of Science:

• Plant pathology
• Virology
• Evolutionary biology

Background:

• Pepper mild mottle virus (PMMoV) significantly impacts global pepper crop yields.
• Previous estimates of PMMoV evolutionary rates have varied considerably.
• Understanding PMMoV's evolutionary dynamics is crucial for disease management.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the phylodynamics and evolutionary rate of Pepper mild mottle virus (PMMoV).
• To establish a timeline for PMMoV's evolutionary history.
• To compare PMMoV's evolutionary rate with other RNA viruses.

Main Methods:

• Analysis of 171 PMMoV coat protein gene nucleotide sequences sampled from 1980 to 2016.
• Application of Bayesian phylogenetic analyses utilizing the structured coalescent model.
• Estimation of evolutionary rates and divergence times.

Main Results:

• The PMMoV crown group was dated to 1949 (95% CI 1935-1962).
• PMMoV exhibits a rapid evolutionary rate of 9.363 × 10⁻⁴ substitutions/site/year (95% CI 7.362 × 10⁻⁴-1.138 × 10⁻³).
• The estimated evolutionary rate is comparable to those of animal RNA viruses.

Conclusions:

• PMMoV demonstrates rapid evolutionary dynamics.
• The findings provide critical insights into the evolutionary trajectory of a major plant pathogen.
• This rapid evolution may have implications for disease resistance and management strategies in pepper crops.