Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jan 2, 2026

Combining Analysis of DNA in a Crude Virion Extraction with the Analysis of RNA from Infected Leaves to Discover New Virus Genomes
Published on: July 27, 2018
Geminiviruses: Taxonomic Structure and Diversity in Genomic Organization
Saurabh Kulshrestha1, Abhishek Bhardwaj1, Vanshika1
1School of Biotechnology, Faculty of Applied Sciences and Biotechnology, Shoolini University of Biotechnology and Management Sciences, Bajhol, Solan (H.P.), India.
Background:
Geminiviridae is one of the best-characterized and hence, one of the largest plant-virus families with the highest economic importance. Its members characteristically have a circular ssDNA genome within the encapsidation of twinned quasi-icosaheadral virions (18-38 nm size-range).
Objective:
Construction of a narrative review on geminiviruses, to have a clearer picture of their genomic structure and taxonomic status.
Methods:
A thorough search was conducted for papers and patents regarding geminiviruses, where relevant information was used to study their genomic organization, diversity and taxonomic structure.
Results:
Geminiviruses have been classified into nine genera (viz., genus Begomovirus, Mastrevirus, Curtovirus, Topocuvirus, Becurtovirus, Turncurtovirus, Capulavirus, Eragrovirus and Grablovirus) having distinct genomic organizations, host ranges and insect vectors. Genomic organization of all genera generally shows the presence of 4-6 ORFs encoding for various proteins. For now, Citrus chlorotic dwarf-associated virus (CCDaV), Camellia chlorotic dwarf-associated virus (CaCDaV) and few other geminiviruses are still unassigned to any genera. The monopartite begomoviruses (and few mastreviruses) have been found associated with aplhasatellites and betasatellites (viz., ~1.3 kb circular ssDNA satellites). Recent reports suggest that deltasatellites potentially reduce the accumulation of helper-Begomovirus species in host plants. Some patents have revealed the methods to generate transgenic plants resistant to geminiviruses.
Conclusion:
Geminiviruses rapidly evolve and are a highly diverse group of plant-viruses. However, research has shown new horizons in tackling the acute begomoviral diseases in plants by generating a novel bio-control methodology in which deltasatellites can be used as bio-control agents and generate transgenic plants resistant to geminiviruses.
More Related Videos
09:50Single Cell Micro-aspiration as an Alternative Strategy to Fluorescence-activated Cell Sorting for Giant Virus Mixture Separation
Published on: October 27, 2019
08:29Averaging of Viral Envelope Glycoprotein Spikes from Electron Cryotomography Reconstructions using Jsubtomo
Published on: October 21, 2014
Related Concept Videos
Size and Structure of Viral Genomes
Viral Structure
Prokaryotic Gene Structure and Organization
Evolutionary Relationships through Genome Comparisons
Viruses of Archaea
Viruses with RNA Genomes