COMPARISON OF TWO DIFFERENT PLUM POX VIRUS ISOLATES ON NUCLEIC ACID LEVEL

Genomic RNA of plum pox virus, severe isolate (PPV-NAT), and purified dsRNA from PPV-AT, mild isolate, were used as templates for the synthesis of complementary DNAs (cDNAs). The generated cDNAs were cloned into various plasmids.
Physical maps of the PPV-NAT and PPV-AT genome were constructed by hybridization and restriction endonuclease digestion.

The nucleotide sequence of PPV-NAT clones covering about 99% of the whole virus genome has been determined, as well as the nucleotide sequence of the coat protein cistron at the 3′-region of PPV-AT RNA. The respective amino acid sequences of the two coat proteins were compared.
The coat proteins showed 98.4% homology, however PPV-AT revealed 15 additional amino acid residues close to the N-terminal end.
Computer analysis of the coat proteins demonstrated that the additional region of PPV-AT may form a supplementary short -helix.
This alteration may possibly be responsible for the ability of aphid transmission, because PPV-AT is aphid transmissible, while PPV-NAT is not.

Recently the coat protein genes have been prepared for the transformation into plants.
This approach may help to establish a cross protection against plum pox virus via the expression of coat protein in transgenic plants.

XIV International Symposium on Fruit Tree Virus Diseases

E. MAISS, U. TIMPE, W. JELKMANN, R. CASPER

https://doi.org/10.17660/ActaHortic.1989.235.45