Research Article, Vegetos Vol: 29 Issue: 4
Detection of Capsicum chlorosis virus (CaCV), An Emerging Virus Infecting Chilli in Tamil Nadu, India
| Haokip DB1*, Alice D1, Malathi VG1, Nagendran K2, Renukadevi P1 and Karthikeyan G1 | |
| 1Department of Plant Pathology, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore, India | |
| 2Division of Vegetable Production, Indian Institute of Vegetable Research, Varanasi, India | |
| Corresponding author : Betsy D Haokip Department of Plant Pathology, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore, India E-mail: betsyhaokip@yahoo.com |
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| Received: October 26, 2016 Accepted: December 06, 2016 Published: December 13, 2016 | |
| Citation: Haokip DB, Alice D, Malathi VG, Nagendran K, Renukadevi P, et al. (2016) Detection of Capsicum chlorosis virus (CaCV) , An Emerging Virus Infecting Chilli in Tamil Nadu, India. Vegetos 29:4. doi: 10.5958/2229-4473.2016.00112.9 |
Abstract
Detection of Capsicum chlorosis virus (CaCV), An Emerging Virus Infecting Chilli in Tamil Nadu, India
Chilli plants in the farmers’ fields in Tamil Nadu showing symptoms of concentric chlorotic and necrotic rings on the leaves were found infected with a tospo virus through RT- PCR by using tospo virus degenerate primer (gL3637 /F and gL4435C). From the BLAST result the virus associated with the disease is identified as Capsicum chlorosis virus (CaCV). For further confirmation, infected samples collected from Coimbatore were amplified using newly designed primer pair (GKCaCVCPF1/R1) corresponding to the nucleocapsid region of the CaCV for further confirmation. In the sequence analysis, complete nucleocapsid protein region shared a nucleotide and amino acid identity of 99.1% and 100% with the PB4 and PB1 isolates of CaCV from India respectively. In the phylogenetic analysis, this isolate grouped with the CaCV isolates from Aurangabad and Tamil Nadu, India than with isolates from other countries. About fifteen hosts from different families were inoculated through sap, of which nine hosts produce local lesion and four showed systemic symptoms. The positive reaction of extract from these plants in DAS- ELISA (double antibody sandwich ELISA) against the Nucleocapsid protein of CaCV (DSMZ, Germany), confirmed the presence of CaCV in infected chilli plants in Tamil Nadu..
Keywords: Chilli; Cacv; Rt-pcr; Das-elisa; Host Range
Keywords |
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| Chilli; Cacv; Rt-pcr; Das-elisa; Host Range | |
Introduction |
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| Chilli pepper (Capsicum annuum L.) is one of the most important spice crops in India. It is cultivated worldwide, especially in temperate regions of Central and South America and European countries, tropical and subtropical regions of Asian continent mainly in India and China. Though chilli is susceptible to several viral diseases, the necrosis disease caused by tospo viruses is very devastating. In India, tospo viruses have emerged as a serious threat to vegetable crops during the last 10 to 15 years [1]. Capsicum chlorosis virus (CaCV) , a member of tospovirus genus was reported for the first time in tomato in northern India during 2007 post-rainy season [2] and subsequently in chilli peppers in southern India, Karnataka [3]. In a survey conducted in Coimbatore district of Tamil Nadu, during 2014-15, concentric chlorotic and necrotic rings on the leaves were observed. The infected plants had a retarded growth when compared to the healthy ones. Results on host range study and identification and characterization of the virus associated with the chlorosis and necrotic spots on chilli crop in Tamil Nadu, are presented in this communication. | |
Materials and Methods |
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| Survey and collection of the plant sample | |
| Surveys were conducted during 2014-15 during Rabi season in different chilli growing areas of Coimbatore to assess and document the virus associated with the necrosis disease of chilli. During the survey, chilli plants showing concentric chlorotic and necrotic rings on the leaves were observed. The infected sample with the healthy sample were collected and brought to the laboratory in the Department of Plant Pathology, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore for molecular analysis of the associated virus and host range study. The samples were stored at -80°C until further studies [4]. | |
| Total RNA extraction and conversion of cDNA | |
| The total RNA was isolated from the virus infected chilli samples as well as the healthy leaf samples by using Total Plant RNA extraction Kit (Sigma Aldrich, USA) according to the manufacturer’s instruction. First strand cDNA synthesis was carried out using cDNA synthesis kit (Revert Aid First Strand cDNA synthesis kit, Thermo Scientific, USA) as per manufacturer’s instruction. The reaction was performed at 42°C for 60 min followed by incubation at 70oC for 5 min. RT- PCR has been carried out with the Tospovirus universal primer pair (gl3617/F– CCTTTAACAGTDGAAACAT, gl4435c/R – CATDGCRCAAGARTG RTARACAGA) corresponding to the L segment of Tospovirus. PCR was carried out with the necrotic and chlorotic samples expressing both chlorotic and necrotic symptoms with the master mix (Smart Prime, India) in 50 μl reaction volume containing master mix- 25 μl; gl3617/F – 5 μl; gl4435c/R – 5 μl; distilled water – 10 μl; cDNA – 5 μl. The PCR products were sequenced and the sequence results were analysed in the BLASTn search (http://blast.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/Blast.cgi ) . A new primer pair (GKCaCVCPF1: AACCAATAGTTTGCCTCCG; GK CaCV CPR1: AGAGCAATCGAGGCACTA) was designed based on the nucleocapsid gene sequence of CaCV (Genbank accession KC953852) available in NCBI database in order to amplify the entire nucleocapsid protein gene. PCR reaction was standardized with the following conditions: Initial denaturation of 94°C for 2 min followed by 35 cycles of denaturation at 94°C for 1 min, annealing at 60°C for 1 min, extension at 72°C for 1 min and a final extension of 72°C for 10 min. The PCR product was cloned into pGEM-T Easy vector (Promega, Madison, WI, USA) and sequenced [5-9]. | |
| Sequence comparison and phylogenetic analysis | |
| The sequence of the virus isolate under this study was compared with the sequences of selected Tospovirus species obtained from the NCBI gene bank database. Multiple sequence alignment was done using Clustal W (www.ebi.ac.uk ) followed by phylogenetic analysis using MEGA 6.0 software (www.megasoftware.net) generated using Neighbour joining tree method, bootstrapped with 1000 replicates (Figure 1) Percentage identity was generated using ClustalW algorithm in Bio edit version 7.0.9.0. | |
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Figure 1: Symptoms of Tospoviruses on chilli in Tamil Nadu. |
| Biological host range | |
| The CaCV infected samples from chilli were used to study the biological host range. Twenty plant species belonging to eight different families (Table 1) were mechanically inoculated with CaCV. The inoculated plants were monitored for the expression of symptoms up to 25–30 days post-inoculation (dpi) in an insect proof greenhouse. Local and systemic infections were confirmed by observing symptoms on inoculated and newly emerged leaves. The infected leaves were tested for the presence of virus by DAS-ELISA using PAbs specific for the CaCV Nc protein (DSMZ, Germany) [9] | |
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Table 1: Reaction of CaCV on different host plants through mechanical sap inoculation; Dpi – Days post inoculation; NI – Not infected. |
| Double antibody sandwich- enzyme linked immunosorbant assay DAS-ELISA | |
| The virus infected chilli field samples showing virus symptoms and mechanically inoculated plant samples from different host were subjected to Double Antibody Sandwich- Enzyme Linked Immuno Sorbant Assay (DAS- ELISA) at 1: 500 dilutions of both the antibody and the anti-virus conjugate using a kit obtained from the DSMZ, Germany as per the procedure described by Clark and Adams [10,11]. The test sample values at least two or three times higher than the respective healthy controls were considered as positive. | |
Results and Discussion |
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| During the survey in different chilli growing areas of Coimbatore, symptoms such as necrosis and chlorosis on the leaves observed in three different locations in Titheepalayam village (Figure 2) were recorded with disease incidence ranging from 10-40%. | |
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Figure 2: Agarose gel electrophoresis showing amplification of CaCV using specific primer pairs GK CaCV F1/R1. |
| Detection and characterization of the virus | |
| RNA extracted from the symptomatic (chlorotic and necrotic) and non-symptomatic leaves of chilli were subjected to preliminary screening for the presence of tospovirus using gl3617/F and gl4435c/R – primer pairs through RT-PCR assay. Symptomatic leaves showed an amplification of ~830bp; no amplicons were obtained from non-symptomatic leaves which confirm the presence of tospovirus associated with the disease of chilli. Amplified products were sequenced and the sequences were analyzed. In a BLAST search, sequence shared 96% similarity towards the L segment of Qld-3432 and Ph isolates of Australia and Taiwan respectively. On the basis of the sequences in NCBI database having maximum identity (Acc. KC953852) towards the virus isolates of the present study, new set of primer pair (GKCaCVF/R) was designed from the S RNA (nt 2371- 3608) in such a way to cover complete nucleocapsid gene (830 nt) of CaCV with an amplicon product 1237 bp size. Amplified product was cloned and sequenced (Figure 3) [12-14]. | |
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Figure 3: Phylogenetic dendrogram based on the alignment of complete nucleotide sequence of nucleocapsidgene of CaCVCBE with that of nucleocapsidgene of selected tospoviruses.Values at notes represent the percentage bootstrap scores (1000 replicates) only values more than 70 are shown. |
| BLAST n analysis of nucleotide sequence data of the complete coat protein gene of CBE isolates revealed a maximum identity of 98% with CaCV isolates, EF625228 and KM014660 reported from chilli in India. In the sequence analysis, this isolate shared a maximum identity of 99.1% and 100% at nucleotide and amino acid level respectively towards the CaCV isolates reported from India (EF625228 and KM014660) . Wide ranges of identities (86.4 to 99.1%) were observed among the CaCV isolates taken under the study. CaCV isolates from Taiwan and China were found to be highly divergent (DQ355974 and HM021139) sharing 86.4% identity and the remaining isolates shared 95.4 - 99.1% identity (Figure 4) . In phylogenetic analyses, this isolate forms a separate group with the CaCV isolates reported from Capsicum annum from Aurangabad and Tamil Nadu of India rather than the isolate reported from Tomato India (Figure 1) . This shows that, isolate under the present study had same center of origin as that of isolates reported earlier from India. | |
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Figure 4: Reaction of CaCV on the different host plants through mechanical sap inoculation. |
| Host range study | |
| The ELISA and RT- PCR positive samples of chilli were used to transmit the virus to indicator hosts by mechanical sap inoculation. The virus produced concentric chlorotic spots in Vigna unguiculata at 3–4 dpi and necrotic spots at 9th dpi, later systemic infection resulted on the leaves at 15th dpi after inoculation. Systemic mosaic symptoms in Nicotiana tobacum were observed at 9–10 dpi, which subsequently led to veinal necrosis at 20th dpi. A minimum of 4 - 5 days were required to produce local lesions (chlorotic and necrotic) of CaCV on the host plants of Trianthema portulacastrum and Arachis hypogea, 6-7 days on Amaranthus viridis L, Glycine max and Boerhavia diffusa, 8-9 days on Chenopodium amaranticolor L and Capsicum annuumL. and 10-12 days on Nicotianatabacum L. Systemic necrotic spots and lesions were observed on vincarosea at 6-7th DPI. The DAS- ELISA analyses of these samples were positive. There was no visible symptom expression on the plants of Cucurbita moschata, Cucumissativus, Benincasahispida, Momordicacharantia and Lagneariasiceraria L. The DAS-ELISA analysis of these samples resulted in negative results. Chen [15] tested 31 plant species out of which 18 were susceptible to CaCV-CP. The virus systemically infected Arachis hypogaea, Phaseolus vulgaris, Glycine max, Pisumsativum, Phaseolus mungo, Cassia tora, Sesbaniacannabina, Nicotianatobacum, N. rustica, N. glutinosa, N.occidentalis, N. benthamiana, Lycopersiconesculentum, Physalisfloridama, Petunia hybrida, Datura stramonium, Capsicum annuum and Cyamopsis tetragonoloba. They have observed that symptoms on these hosts were mostly ring or yellow spots and necrosis on leaves. Local chlorotic ring spots and necrotic spots were found on inoculated leaves of Chenopodium amaraticolor, C. quinoa, Gomphrenaglobosa, Vigna unquiculata, V. unguiculata ssp. sesquipedalis and Cassia occidentalis. Seven plant species (Viciafaba, Cajanuscajan, Catharanthusroseus, Cicer arietinum, Zinnia elegans, Cucumissativus and Sesanumindicum) were not infected. Zheng [16] also determined a host range of CaCV isolate, 91-orchid-1 and found that out of the twenty-three plant species mechanically inoculated, fifteen species were susceptible to the virus 91-orchid-1. Chlorotic local lesions were found on inoculated leaves of N. glutinosa, N. occidentalis, N. tabacum cv. Hicks, N. tabacum var. Samsun, C. quinoa and C. murale. Systemic infection of 91- orchid-1 was observed 6–10 days post-inoculation in N. benthamiana, N. edwardsonii, N. tabacum var. Xanthi, N. tabacum cv. Vam-Hicks, N. rustica, Lycopersiconesculentum, Capsicum annuum (red pepper) , C. annuum var. grossum (sweet pepper) and D. stramonium. Symptoms on systemic hosts were mostly chlorotic rings pots or chlorotic spots initially which later developed into necrosis in the central region of spots. Infections were also confirmed by positive reactions of ELISA tests with antisera to 91- orchid-1. Cucurbita pepo var. zucchini, Cucumis melo (muskmelon) , C. melo var. conomon Makino (oriental pickling melon) , Citrullus vulgaris (watermelon) , Luffa acutangula (loofah) , C. melo var. makuwa Makino (melon) and Lagenaria siceraria (bottle gourd) were not infected with 91-orchid-1 as determined by symptom expression, ELISA and infectivity assay on C. quinoa. In a host-range study, out of 25 plant species tested, 19 were susceptible to CaCV-Ch-Pan and CaCV To-Ind (Capsicum chlorosis virus-Tomato-India) . Local and systemic infections were confirmed by observing symptoms on inoculated and newly emerged leaves. The infected leaves were tested for virus by DAS-ELISA using PAbs specific for the CaCV N protein [17]. | |
| From this study, it is evident that CaCV is the causal agent for the necrosis and chlorosis spot diseases of chilli and it is found spreading in Tamil Nadu. In future, this may cause menace for the cultivation of chilli crop. Hence, this preliminary work will be helpful for the specific identification of tospovirus species, CaCV associated with the chilli crop. | |
References |
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