Identification and Characterization of a Novel Cytorhabdovirus Associated with Pear (P. communis ‘Bartlett’) Through RNA-seq

Novel viruses in plants can be detected through transcriptome data mining. In this study, a novel cytorhabdovirus, pear rhabdovirus 1 (PRV-1) was identified through reanalysis of RNA-seq data of pear (P. communis ‘Bartlett’). The genomic RNA of PRV-1, with complete coding region, measured 15,628 nucleotides (nts) and encompassed six open reading frames (ORF). Homology analysis of PRV-1 genome showed sequence identity of 33.18–56.75% with the existing cytorhabdovirus sequences. Phylogenetic analysis based on genome sequences showed that PRV-1 clustered in the same clade of cytorhabdoviruses. Based on the sequence demarcation criteria, PRV-1 represents a newly discovered species within the Cytorhabdovirus genus of the Rhabdoviridae family. Identification of a novel virus in pear will enhance our understanding on the diversity of plant cytorhabdoviruses.