Genomic characterization and transmission efficiency by its vector Bemisia tabaci of a novel recombinant strain of potato yellow mosaic virus

Potato yellow mosaic virus (PYMV) is one of the most important begomoviruses infecting tomatoes in the Caribbean basin. Viruses of this group are transmitted by whiteflies of the Bemisia tabaci cryptic species complex. Within this complex, the whitefly referred to as Middle East-Asia Minor 1 (MEAM1) is globally spread and recognised as a highly efficient begomovirus vector. This study reports the whole genome of a PYMV isolate infecting tomatoes in Táchira state, Venezuela. The DNA-A of this isolate shared the highest nucleotide identity (93.5%) with a PYMV isolate from Solanum americanum. The PYMV isolate described here revealed a putative recombination event involving PYMV and tomato chlorotic leaf distortion virus. Additionally, the PYMV transmission by the whitefly MEAM1 was evaluated. At 60 days post inoculation, the transmission efficiency was 83.6, 88.2 and 100% when using one, five and 20 adults per plants, respectively