Genome Sequences and Structures of Two Biologically Distinct Strains of Grapevine leafroll-associated virus 2 and Sequence Analysis

Abstract

Grapevine leafroll-associated virus 2 (GLRaV-2), a member of the genus Closterovirus within Closteroviridae, is implicated in several important diseases of grapevines including “leafroll”, “graft-incompatibility”, and “quick decline” worldwide. Several GLRaV-2 isolates have been detected from different grapevine genotypes. However, the genomes of these isolates were not sequenced or only partially sequenced. Consequently, the relationship of these viral isolates at the molecular level has not been determined. Here, we group the various GLRaV-2 isolates into four strains based on their coat protein gene sequences. We show that isolates “PN” (originated from Vitis vinifera cv. “Pinot noir”), “Sem” (from V. vinifera cv. “Semillon”) and “94/970” (from V. vinifera cv. “Muscat of Alexandria”) belong to the same strain, “93/955” (from hybrid “LN-33”) and “H4” (from V. rupestris “St. George”) each represents a distinct strain, while Grapevine rootstock stem lesion-associated virus.