Complete genome sequence of ornithogalum virus 3.

Ornithogalum thyrsoides, a widely cultivated bulbous ornamental plant endemic to South Africa, has significant commercial value as a pot plant and for the production of cut flowers. However, infection by viruses threatens the success of commercial cultivation, as symptoms negatively affect the appearance of the plant and flowers. To date, four Ornithogalum-infecting viruses have been reported. Complete genome sequence data are available for three of these viruses, but the genome of the potyvirus ornithogalum virus 3 (OV3) has not been fully sequenced. In this study, the complete sequence of OV3 was determined by high-throughput sequencing (HTS) and validated by Sanger sequencing. Based on recognition of protease cleavage patterns and multiple sequence alignments with closely related viruses, the polyprotein of OV3 was predicted to be proteolytically cleaved to produce 10 mature peptides containing domains conserved in members of the genus Potyvirus. Phylogenetic analysis and species demarcation criteria confirm the previous classification of OV3 as a member of a separate species in this genus. This is the first report of a complete genome sequence of OV3.

Complete genome sequence of a novel polerovirus in Ornithogalum thyrsoides from South Africa.

Ornithogalum thyrsoides, commonly known as chincherinchee, is an indigenous ornamental plant widely cultivated in South Africa. It is commercially valued as a flowering pot plant and for the production of cut flowers. Virus infections resulting in the development of severe necrotic mosaic symptoms threaten the success of commercial cultivation. The virome of an O. thyrsoides plant displaying necrotic mosaic symptoms was determined using high-throughput sequencing (HTS). In this plant, ornithogalum mosaic virus and ornithogalum virus 3 were identified, as well as a previously unknown virus. The full genome sequence of this virus was confirmed by Sanger sequencing using overlapping amplicons combined with rapid amplification of cDNA ends (RACE). Based on genome organisation and phylogenetic analysis, this novel virus can be classified as a polerovirus.

Status of the current vitivirus taxonomy.

Since the establishment of the genus Vitivirus, several additional viruses have been sequenced and proposed to represent new species of this genus. Currently, the International Committee on Taxonomy of Viruses recognizes 15 vitivirus species. The report of new vitiviruses that fail to completely adhere to the species demarcation criteria, the incorporation of non-vitivirus grapevine viruses in the unofficial "naming system", and the existence of non-grapevine vitiviruses lead to inconsistencies in classification. In this report, we give a brief overview of vitiviruses and use currently available information to clarify the present status of the vitivirus taxonomy.

Coupled high-performance liquid chromatography-gas chromatography for the determination of pesticide residues in biological matrices.

A fully automated high-performance liquid chromatography-gas chromatography (HPLC-GC) network is described. A ten-port valve set up as a loop type LC-GC interface allowed the transfer of large LC effluent fractions into the gas chromatograph by concurrent solvent evaporation. The system performed highly efficient sample enrichment and clean up by LC and on-line GC separation with sensitive electron-capture detection. The efficiency of the system was demonstrated by application to the trace analysis of N-(3-chloro-2,6-dimethylphenyl)-N-(2-oxotetrahydrofuranyl)-2-me thoxyacetamide (CGA 80000) in various crops and soil samples. The residue level determined was 0.02 mg/kg for crop samples and 0.01 mg/kg for soil samples. The relative standard deviations of the calibration graphs were in the range 2-5%; the mean recovery was greater than 85%.