A model for the generation of tobacco rattle virus (TRV) anomalous isolates: pea early browning virus RNA-2 acquires TRV sequences from both RNA-1 and RNA-2.

Comparison of the 5'-terminal sequences of several tobraviruses suggests that the RNA-2 molecule of the tobacco rattle virus (TRV) anomalous isolate TCM arose from pea early browning virus (PEBV) RNA-2 by acquisition of 3' and 5' sequences from TRV RNA-1 and RNA-2 molecules, respectively. We have identified a region of homology in the RNA-2 molecules of PEBV, TRV and pepper ringspot virus which could have facilitated this recombination.