Two viruses from Stylosanthes guianensis may represent a new genus within Potyviridae

Forage crops occupy large areas of tropical pastures for cattle feeding in Brazil. The use of stylos (Stylosanthes spp.) in these pastures, which are leguminous shrubs, has increased in the country due to their outstanding nutritional value and for being an efficient and alternative source for nitrogen fixation in the soil. In recent years, virus-like mosaic symptoms on S.guianensis leaves have often been observed in the field, indicating possible virus-like pathogen infections. In an effort to identify the causal agent, virus semi-purification protocol was performed using symptomatic S. guianensis leaves collected at EMBRAPA Beef Cattle Research Center. Total RNA extracted from this semi-purified preparation was submitted to high-throughput sequencing, which revealed complete genome sequences of novel viruses of the family Potyviridae. These viruses, tentatively named stylo mosaic-associated virus 1 (StyMaV-1) and stylo mosaic-associated virus 2 (StyMaV-2), shared 73 % CP aa identity and 77 % polyprotein aa identity with each other and, after that, being closest related to blackberry virus Y, genus Brambyvirus (only 41 % CP aa identity). Based on ICTV genus demarcation criteria, StyMaV-1 and StyMaV-2 represent new species of a new genus within the family Potyviridae. StyMaV-1 and StyMaV-2 are also not efficiently transmitted to other plant species by mechanical inoculation.