The family Closteroviridae revised

Martelli, G.P.; Agranovsky, A.A.; Bar-Joseph, M.; Boscia, D.; Minafra, A.; Candresse, T.; Coutts, Robert H.A.; Dolja, V.V.; Falk, B.W.; Gonsalves, D.; Jelkmann, W.; Karasev, A.V.; Namba, S.; Vetten, H.J.; Wisler, G.C.; Yoshikawa, N.

Author

Martelli, G.P.

Agranovsky, A.A.

Bar-Joseph, M.

Boscia, D.

Minafra, A.

Candresse, T.

Coutts, Robert H.A.

Dolja, V.V.

Falk, B.W.

Gonsalves, D.

Jelkmann, W.

Karasev, A.V.

Namba, S.

Vetten, H.J.

Wisler, G.C.

Yoshikawa, N.

Abstract

Recently obtained molecular and biological information has prompted the revision of the taxonomic structure of the family Closteroviridae. In particular, mealybug-transmitted species have been separated from the genus Closterovirus and accommodated in a new genus named Ampelovirus (fromampelos, Greek for grapevine). Thus, the family now comprises three genera. Their major properties are (i) Closterovirus: type species Beet yellows virus, genome monopartite, 15.5-19.3 kb in size, a 22-25 kDa major coat protein (CP), the gene encoding the divergent CP analogue (CPd) upstream of the CP cistron, transmission by aphids, a membership of 8 definitive and 4 tentative species; (ii) Ampelo-virus: type speciesGrapevine leafroll virus 3, genome monopartite 16.9-19.5 kb in size, a 35-37 kDa major CP, a CPd cistron generally located downstream of the CP gene, transmission by pseudococcid and coccid mealybugs, a membership of 6 definitive and 5 tentative species; (iii) Crinivirus: type species Lettuce infectious yellows virus, genome essentially bipartite 15.3-19 kb in size, a 28-33 kDa CP, a CPd cistron downstream of the CP gene, transmission by whiteflies (Bemisia, Trialeurodes), a membership of 7 definitive and 3 tentative species. There are five unassigned species in the family.