Identification and molecular characterization of tea-oil camellia-associated totivirus 1

A novel dsRNA virus was identified by high-throughput sequencing from tea oil trees in China. Its complete genome of 4714 bp contains two open reading frames (ORFs). ORF1 encodes a putative coat protein (CP) of 702 amino acids (aa), and ORF2 codes for an RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRp) of 855 aa. The virus shares the highest aa sequence identity of 45.21% in RdRp with taro-associated totivirus L (MN_119621), a member of the genus Totivirus in the family Totiviridae. Phylogenetic analysis of the aa sequences of the RdRp places the new virus in a group with other totiviruses, suggesting that this virus, which is provisionally named "tea-oil camellia-associated totivirus 1", should be considered a member of the genus Totivirus.