Characterization and genome analysis of Cucumber mosaic virus on commercial tobacco plants in Ecuador

Abstract

Tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum L.), an endemic species of South America that is grown worldwide, is a member of the Solanaceae family. Although it is not a common crop in Ecuador, tobacco is important to the nation's economy and a significant source of employment. Viral infections are particularly devastating to tobacco as they can reduce both its yield and quality. In July 2021, symptoms of chlorosis, mosaic and leaf distortion were observed in four commercial fields in the provinces of Guayas and Los Ríos in Ecuador. This study aims to comprehensively characterize a viral isolate obtained from symptomatic plants. Using high throughput sequencing (HTS), phylogenetic analysis of the different open reading frames, and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) of symptomatic plants, we report for the first time the molecular characterization and genome sequence of Cucumber mosaic virus (CMV) isolated from commercial tobacco plants in Ecuador. The ability to detect and identify CMV in tobacco commercial plant fields enables the development of efficient control strategies, thereby mitigating constraints on the production of high-quality tobacco leaves.