Partial biological and molecular characterization of a novel citrivirus from Nandina domestica.

We report the complete genome sequence of a novel virus isolated from Nandina domestica 'Firepower' in Auckland, New Zealand. It was mechanically transmitted to Nicotiana species, although all of these infections were symptomless. The complete genome of the new virus is 8892 nucleotides (nt) long, excluding the 3' poly(A) tail, contains three open reading frames (ORF), and is most closely related to citrus leaf blotch virus (CLBV) Actinidia isolate (CLBV-Act; 72% nt sequence identity), a member of the genus Citrivirus. Replicase and coat proteins, encoded by genome ORFs 1 and 3 respectively, shared 81-83% and 76-79% amino acid (aa) sequence identity, respectively, with CLBV-Act. Computer-based analysis suggests that this novel virus is the result of recombination between CLBV-Act and an unknown virus, highlighting the importance of this phenomenon for betaflexivirus evolution.