Open AccessBacilliform DNA ‐containing plant viruses in the tropics: commonalities within a genetically diverse group
Author(s) -
Borah Basanta K.,
Sharma Shweta,
Kant Ravi,
Johnson A. M. Anthony,
Saigopal Divi Venkata Ramana,
Dasgupta Indranil
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
molecular plant pathology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.945
H-Index - 103
eISSN - 1364-3703
pISSN - 1464-6722
DOI - 10.1111/mpp.12046
Subject(s) - biology , plant virus , virus , botany , virology
Plant viruses, possessing a bacilliform shape and containing double-stranded DNA, are emerging as important pathogens in a number of agricultural and horticultural crops in the tropics. They have been reported from a large number of countries in African and Asian continents, as well as from islands from the Pacific region. The viruses, belonging to two genera, Badnavirus and Tungrovirus, within the family Caulimoviridae, have genomes displaying a common plan, yet are highly variable, sometimes even between isolates of the same virus. In this article, we summarize the current knowledge with a view to revealing the common features embedded within the genetic diversity of this group of viruses.