Discovery of a novel geminivirus associated with camellia chlorotic dwarf disease

Next-generation sequencing of small RNAs and PCR amplification with two pairs of back-to-back primers, followed by cloning and sequencing, allowed identification of a novel geminivirus isolate provisionally named camellia chlorotic dwarf-associated virus (CaCDaV). The complete genome sequence of CaCDaV comprises 3,687 nucleotides (nts) and six open reading frames (ORFs). The genome and putative proteins of CaCDaV were most closely related to those of two unclassified geminiviruses: citrus chlorotic dwarf-associated virus (CCDaV, 3,640 nt) and mulberry mosaic dwarf-associated virus (MMDaV, 2,952 nt). Phylogenetic analysis revealed a distinct clade for CaCDaV, CCDaV and MMDaV, supporting their inclusion in a new genus within the family Geminiviridae. Because CaCDaV and CCDaV shared a high genome nucleotide sequence identity (54.8%), we propose that the CaCDaV should be included as a member in this new genus.