A recessive gene pepy-1 encoding Pelota confers resistance to begomovirus isolates of PepYLCIV and PepYLCAV in Capsicum annuum.

KEY MESSAGE: A begomovirus resistance gene pepy-1, which encodes the messenger RNA surveillance factor Pelota, was identified in pepper (C. annuum) through map-based cloning and functional characterization. Pepper yellow leaf curl disease caused by begomoviruses seriously affects pepper (Capsicum spp.) production in a number of regions around the world. Ty genes of tomato, which confer resistance to the tomato yellow leaf curl virus, are the only begomovirus resistance genes cloned to date. In this study, we focused on the identification of begomovirus resistance genes in Capsicum annuum. BaPep-5 was identified as a novel source of resistance against pepper yellow leaf curl Indonesia virus (PepYLCIV) and pepper yellow leaf curl Aceh virus (PepYLCAV). A single recessive locus, which we named as pepper yellow leaf curl disease virus resistance 1 (pepy-1), responsible for PepYLCAV resistance in BaPep-5 was identified on chromosome 5 in an F2 population derived from a cross between BaPep-5 and the begomovirus susceptible accession BaPep-4. In the target region spanning 34 kb, a single candidate gene, the messenger RNA surveillance factor Pelota, was identified. Whole-genome resequencing of BaPep-4 and BaPep-5 and comparison of their genomic DNA sequences revealed a single nucleotide polymorphism (A to G) located at the splice site of the 9th intron of CaPelota in BaPep-5, which caused the insertion of the 9th intron into the transcript, resulting in the addition of 28 amino acids to CaPelota protein without causing a frameshift. Virus-induced gene silencing of CaPelota in the begomovirus susceptible pepper No.218 resulted in the gain of resistance against PepYLCIV, a phenotype consistent with BaPep-5. The DNA marker developed in this study will greatly facilitate marker-assisted breeding of begomovirus resistance in peppers.

Ty-2 and Ty-3a Conferred Resistance are Insufficient Against Tomato Yellow Leaf Curl Kanchanaburi Virus from Southeast Asia in Single or Mixed Infections of Tomato.

Tomato yellow leaf curl virus (TYLCV), a monopartite begomovirus that originated in the eastern Mediterranean, has spread worldwide, becoming a serious threat to tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) production. Southeast Asia is considered one of the hotspots for begomovirus diversity, and a wide variety of local begomovirus species distinct from TYLCV have been identified. In this study, the protection effect of introgressions of single TYLCV Ty resistance genes, Ty-2 and Ty-3a, in tomato was examined against inoculations of the bipartite begomoviruses Tomato yellow leaf curl Kanchanaburi virus (TYLCKaV) and Pepper yellow leaf curl Indonesia virus (PepYLCIV) isolated from Indonesia. Our findings suggest that Ty-2 in the heterozygous state was found to be ineffective against PepYLCIV and TYLCKaV, whereas Ty-3a in the heterozygous state was effective against PepYLCIV and partially effective against TYLCKaV. Quantification of viral DNAs showed correlation between symptom expression and viral DNA accumulation. Moreover, mixed infections of TYLCKaV and PepYLCIV caused notably severe symptoms in tomato plants harboring Ty-3a. In cases of mixed infection, quantifying viral DNAs showed a relatively high accumulation of PepYLCIV, indicating that Ty-3a loses its effectiveness against PepYLCIV when TYLCKaV is also present. This study demonstrates the lack of effectiveness of Ty resistance genes against single and mixed infections of distinct local begomoviruses from Southeast Asia.

Pepper vein yellows virus 9: a novel polerovirus isolated from chili pepper in Indonesia.

In 2017, a leaf sample from a single chili pepper (Capsicum annuum) plant exhibiting yellowing was collected from Aceh province, Indonesia. Total RNA was extracted from this sample, and RNA-Seq analysis was conducted. Putative infecting viruses were detected by mapping the obtained reads to the full-length viral genome sequences available in the GenBank database (7457 sequences) and the de novo-assembled contigs. RNA-Seq analysis detected polerovirus, begomovirus, and amalgavirus sequences, and the polerovirus-like sequences showed strong similarity to those of previously reported pepper vein yellows viruses (PeVYVs). The complete viral genome sequence obtained by RT-PCR had a length of 6023 nt, had the typical genome organization of a polerovirus and showed a high degree of sequence similarity to PeVYV-2 from Israel. Moreover, the predicted amino acid sequence of the P0 protein of the Indonesian isolate was 85.1% to 88.8% identical to those of other PeVYVs. In accordance with the polerovirus species demarcation criteria, this isolate should be assigned to a new polerovirus species, and we propose the name "pepper vein yellows virus 9" (PeVYV-9) for this virus.

Pepper yellow leaf curl Aceh virus: a novel bipartite begomovirus isolated from chili pepper, tomato, and tobacco plants in Indonesia.

During 2017, leaf samples of chili pepper (Capsicum annuum), tomato (Solanum lycopersicum), and tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum) plants exhibiting yellowing and curling symptoms were collected from Aceh province, Indonesia. These samples were used to isolate and sequence viral genomic DNA. Six isolates with complete DNA-A and DNA-B sequences of begomovirus were obtained, all of which showed >99% sequence identity to the others. DNA-A sequences shared the highest nucleotide sequence identity (89.3%-89.7%) with monopartite pepper yellow leaf curl Indonesia virus 2 (PepYLCIV2) and the second-highest sequence identity (87.3%-87.4%) with bipartite pepper yellow leaf curl Indonesia virus (PepYLCIV). The DNA-B sequences shared the highest nucleotide sequence identity (95%-97.5%) with PepYLCIV. Results of recombination analysis indicated that the novel begomovirus was a recombinant. In accordance with the guidelines for begomovirus species demarcation, these isolates should be assigned to a new species, and we have proposed the name ''pepper yellow leaf curl Aceh virus'' (PepYLCAV) for this virus.