New record of a monopartite begomovirus and papaya leaf curl betasatellite infecting Mirabilis jalapa in Himachal Pradesh, India

Mirabilis jalapa is an important plant species for its ornamental and medicinal values. In September 2013, M. jalapa leaf samples showing vein yellowing symptoms were collected from Kangra district of Himachal Pradesh and examined for begomovirus infection. PCR analysis using DNA-A and betasatellite specific primers gave desired amplification in all infected samples. However, no PCR amplification was obtained for DNA-B that suggested monopartite nature of the infecting virus. Sequence analysis showed that the partial begomovirus sequence was most similar (92%) to mirabilis leaf curl virus (MLCV). The full-length betasatellite (1374 bp) showed highest identity (99%) to papaya leaf curl betasatellite (PaLCuB), reported from Valeriana jatamansi. Phylogenetic analysis clustered begomovirus sequence with MLCV whereas the betasatellite sequence clustered with various isolates of PaLCuB reported from India and Pakistan. This is the first report of a monopartite begomovirus and papaya leaf curl betasatellite on a new host, M. jalapa.