Reverse genetics platform for tomato mottle mosaic virus: infectious clone construction and resistance screening in...

Area of Science:

• Plant Pathology
• Virology
• Molecular Biology

Background:

• Tomato mottle mosaic virus (ToMMV), a Tobamovirus, is an emerging pathogen impacting global tomato production.
• Understanding ToMMV's genetic makeup is crucial for managing its threat to tomato cultivation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To genetically characterize a new ToMMV isolate from China.
• To construct a functional infectious clone of ToMMV for research.

Main Methods:

• Sequencing of a ToMMV isolate from China.
• Construction of a full-length cDNA infectious clone using Gibson Assembly.
• Agroinfiltration and sap inoculation for pathogenicity assays.

Main Results:

• The Chinese ToMMV isolate showed 98.5% nucleotide identity to a known strain.
• The constructed infectious clone successfully induced disease symptoms in *Nicotiana benthamiana* and tomato plants.
• Pathogenicity assays confirmed the clone's virulence, and differential cultivar responses were observed.

Conclusions:

• Gibson Assembly is an effective method for creating ToMMV infectious clones.
• The developed clone serves as a vital tool for studying ToMMV biology and host interactions.
• Identified cultivar resistance variations can inform future breeding programs for ToMMV resistance.