Properties and detection of two cryptoviruses from pepper (Capsicum annuum)

Virome analysis of field-collected chilli samples reveals diverse viruses

BACKGROUND

Chilli (Capsicum annuum L.), an important spice crop, is susceptible to diverse viral infections. Traditional detection methods including PCR and its variants had difficulty in identifying the complete spectrum of viruses, especially in mixed infections. High-throughput sequencing (HTS) has emerged as a successful tool for comprehensive virome analyses, enabling the identification of the known and novel viruses in the infected samples. Using HTS, we investigated virome analyses to identify known and novel viruses in chilli.

METHODS

In 2021-22, 19 leaf samples were collected from chili plants in farmer fields in Karnataka, India, showing symptoms such as leaf curling, vein banding, mosaic, mottling, filiform, leathery, dull-colored, and bunchy leaves. Total RNA was extracted, pooled at equimolar concentrations, and subjected to virome profiling. rRNA-depleted RNA was used to prepare mRNA and sRNA libraries, which were sequenced on the Illumina NovaSeq 6000 platform. Bioinformatics tools were used to analyze the sequencing data and identify plant viruses.

RESULTS

Viral disease incidences varied from 26.6 to 47.5% in the farmer fields surveyed. Virome analyses revealed complete/ near-complete genomes of six different viruses: chilli leaf curl virus (ChiLCV), cucumber mosaic virus (CMV), groundnut bud necrosis orthotospovirus (GBNV), pepper cryptic virus-2 (PCV-2), pepper vein yellows virus (PeVYV) and bell pepper alphaendornavirus (BPEV). The viral copy number of ChiLCV was found to be the highest (45.36%) and had the least mutational frequency (SNPs) and was also associated with five satellites. Recombination breakpoints were observed in ChiLCV (coat protein and AC4 regions), CMV RNA2 (2a protein) and PeVYV (P0, P3 and P5 proteins), indicating their origins from intra- and interspecific recombination events. Identified viruses in the pooled RNA sample were confirmed by PCR. Further, novel loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) diagnostic assays were developed for diagnosing the identified viruses for future use. Among the six viruses identified in chilli, PeVYV and BPEV are the first reports from India.

CONCLUSIONS

This study presents the first virome profiling of chili using HTS and identified known and previously unreported viruses in farmer fields of Karnataka, India. Understanding viral diversity provides insights for developing diagnostic tools and effective management strategies.

The First High-Throughput Sequencing-Based Study of Viruses Infecting Solanaceous Crops in Kosovo Reveals Multiple Infections in Peppers by Six Plant Viruses

High-throughput sequencing (HTS) was employed for the first time to investigate plant viruses infecting solanaceous crops, including potato (Solanum tuberosum), tomato (Solanum lycopersicum), and pepper (Capsicum annuum), in Kosovo. Leaf samples showing virus-like symptoms were collected from various regions during the summer of 2023. Based on ribodepleted RNA sequencing and bioinformatics analysis, six viruses were identified: cucumber mosaic virus, broad bean wilt virus 2 (BBWV2), potato virus Y, pepper cryptic virus 2 (PCV2), bell pepper endornavirus (BPEV), and ranunculus white mottle virus. BBWV2, PCV2, and BPEV are reported for the first time in the Balkan region. Virus presence was validated using RT-PCR. Phylogenetic analyses revealed that the identified viral strains did not cluster according to their hosts and geographical origins. CMV and BBWV2 variants exhibited reassortment events, indicating possible local evolution or novel virus introductions. This research highlights the widespread occurrence of mixed infections in pepper plants and highlights the need for additional research into the virus transmission dynamics and potential reservoir hosts. These findings emphasize the need for continuous surveillance and integrated plant protection strategies to mitigate the impacts of viral infections on pepper and other economically important crops in Kosovo.

Vertical and horizontal transmission of plant viruses: two extremes of a continuum?

Parasites have a variety of mechanisms to be transmitted to new susceptible hosts, which can be largely grouped in two main modes: vertical (i.e., from parents to the offspring) and horizontal (i.e., between hosts regardless of descent). Because between-host dispersal is a key trait for parasite fitness, scientists studying host-parasite interactions have been long interested in understanding the evolution of their transmission mode(s). Most work in this regard has been theoretical, which resulted in the development of the so-called Continuum hypothesis. This theory states that because vertically transmitted parasites require the host to reproduce, the evolution of this mode of transmission will involve reduced virulence (i.e., the effect of infection on host fecundity) in order to allow maximal host viable progeny production. Conversely, the evolution of horizontal transmission does not have this limitation and parasites with this mode of transmission will evolve higher virulence. Therefore, a trade-off between both modes of transmission across a continuum of virulence values is predicted, with each transmission mode located at the extremes of the continuum. Using plant viruses as a focal parasite, here we review existing theory surrounding the Continuum hypothesis and the experimental work testing the predictions of the theory. Finally, we briefly discuss molecular mechanisms that may explain the existence of vertical-to-horizontal transmission trade-offs and potential implications for the management of virus epidemics.

The Newly Identified Trichoderma harzianum Partitivirus (ThPV2) Does Not Diminish Spore Production and Biocontrol Activity of Its Host

A new partititvirus isolated from a Trichoderma harzianum strain (T673), collected in China, was characterized and annotated as Trichoderma harzianum partitivirus 2 (ThPV2). The genome of ThPV2 consists of a 1693 bp dsRNA1 encoding a putative RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRp) and a 1458 bp dsRNA2 encoding a hypothetical protein. In comparative studies employing the ThPV2-infected strain (T673) and a strain cured by ribavirin treatment (virus-free strain T673-F), we investigated biological effects of ThPV2 infection. While the growth rate of the virus-infected fungus differed little from that of the cured variant, higher mycelial density, conidiospore, and chlamydospore production were observed in the virus-infected strain T673. Furthermore, both the ThPV2-infected and the cured strain showed growth- and development-promoting activities in cucumber plants. In vitro confrontation tests showed that strains T673 and T673-F inhibited several important fungal pathogens and an oomycete pathogen in a comparable manner. Interestingly, in experiments with cucumber seeds inoculated with Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. cucumerinum, the ThPV2-infected strain T673 showed moderately but statistically significantly improved biocontrol activity when compared with strain T673-F. Our data broaden the spectrum of known mycoviruses and provide relevant information for the development of mycoviruses for agronomic applications.

A novel deltapartitivirus from red clover

The family Partitiviridae has five genera, among which is the genus Deltapartitivirus. We report here the complete genome sequence of a deltapartitivirus from red clover, termed "red clover cryptic virus 3" (RCCV3). RCCV3 has a bisegmented double-stranded (ds) RNA genome. dsRNA1 and dsRNA2 are 1580 and 1589 nucleotides (nt) in length and are predicted to encode an RNA-directed RNA polymerase (RdRP) and a capsid protein (CP), respectively. The RCCV3 RdRP shares the highest sequence identity with the RdRP of a previously reported deltapartitivirus, Medicago sativa deltapartitivirus 1 (MsDPV1) (76.5%), while the RCCV3 CP shows 50% sequence identity to the CP of MsDPV1. RdRP- and CP-based phylogenetic trees place RCCV3 into a clade of deltapartitiviruses. The sequence and phylogenetic analyses clearly indicate that RCCV3 represents a new species in the genus Deltapartitivirus. RCCV3 was detectable in all three tested cultivars of red clover.

RNA-seq reveals plant virus composition and diversity in alfalfa, thrips, and aphids in Beijing, China

Viruses are widespread in alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.), representing a key limitation to the production of this important forage plant. Understanding the diversity of plant viruses in alfalfa and their potential vectors will play an important role in management to minimize the emergence, transmission, and impact of viruses. Next-generation sequencing (NGS) targeting the transcriptome was applied to monitor the virus communities in alfalfa and its two main pests, thrips (Odontothrips loti Haliday and Frankliniella intonsa Trybom) and aphids (Acyrthosiphon pisum Mordvilko and Therioaphis trifolii Monell). A comparison of transcriptome datasets with reference databases revealed the presence of eight candidate viruses. Five out of the eight viruses, alfalfa mosaic virus (AMV), Medicago sativa alphapartitivirus 1 (MsAPV1), Medicago sativa deltapartitivirus 1 (MsDPV1), Medicago sativa amalgavirus 1 (MsAV1), and bean yellow mosaic virus (BYMV), were confirmed by RT-PCR. We identified and determined the presence of four RNA viruses from alfalfa samples, two viruses (AMV and MsAPV1) from thrips samples, and one virus (BYMV) from T. trifolii. All sequences isolated from the insect samples were more than 95% identical to the sequences from the alfalfa samples or to sequences from the National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI) reference database. The RNA-seq results of this study suggest that AMV and MsAPV1 are the predominant RNA plant viruses infecting alfalfa and that they are carried by the major pests. This lays the foundation for future research on the vectors and transmission of these viruses. In addition, the sequence data have enabled the assembly of the first complete genome sequence of MsDPV1 from alfalfa.

Complete nucleotide sequence of a novel partitivirus from Brassica campestris L. ssp. chinensis

In the present work, we report the discovery and complete genome sequence of a novel partitivirus identified from Brassica campestris L. ssp. chinensis, which we have named "Brassica campestris chinensis cryptic virus 1" (BCCV1). Next-generation sequencing (NGS) combined with adapter-ligation-mediated amplification allowed assembly of the full-length genome sequence of BCCV1. The genome of BCCV1 contains two dsRNA segments, dsRNA1 (1595 bp) and dsRNA2 (1591 bp), which encode a conserved RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRp) and a putative capsid protein (CP), respectively. Homology searches and phylogenetic analysis of the 479-aa RdRp and 438-aa CP showed that BCCV1 is a new member of the genus Deltapartitivirus, family Partitiviridae. This is the first report of the identification of a member of the family Partitiviridae in Brassica campestris L. ssp. chinensis.

Identification of Viruses and Viroids Infecting Tomato and Pepper Plants in Vietnam by Metatranscriptomics

Tomato (Lycopersicum esculentum L.) and pepper (Capsicum annuum L.) plants belonging to the family Solanaceae are cultivated worldwide. The rapid development of next-generation sequencing (NGS) technology facilitates the identification of viruses and viroids infecting plants. In this study, we carried out metatranscriptomics using RNA sequencing followed by bioinformatics analyses to identify viruses and viroids infecting tomato and pepper plants in Vietnam. We prepared a total of 16 libraries, including eight tomato and eight pepper libraries derived from different geographical regions in Vietnam. We identified a total of 602 virus-associated contigs, which were assigned to 18 different virus species belonging to nine different viral genera. We identified 13 different viruses and two viroids infecting tomato plants and 12 viruses and two viroids infecting pepper plants with viruses as dominantly observed pathogens. Our results showed that multiple infection of different viral pathogens was common in both plants. Moreover, geographical region and host plant were two major factors to determine viral populations. Taken together, our results provide the comprehensive overview of viral pathogens infecting two important plants in the family Solanaceae grown in Vietnam.

Manipulation of Aphid Behavior by a Persistent Plant Virus

Plants are frequently infected with cytoplasmic RNA viruses that persist for many generations through nearly 100% vertical transmission without producing any symptoms. Movement between plant cells and horizontal transmission have not been observed with these viruses; instead, they are distributed to all host cells through host cell division. Jalapeño peppers (Capsicum annuum) are all infected with Pepper cryptic virus 1 (PCV-1; family Partitiviridae). We compared the effect of odor cues from PCV-1-infected (J+) and virus-free (J-) jalapeño peppers on the aphid Myzus persicae, a common vector of acute plant viruses. Pairwise preference experiments showed a stark contrast to insect-plant interactions in acute virus infections-that is, the virus-infected plants deterred aphids. The acute plant virus Cucumber mosaic virus (CMV) manipulates its host's volatile emissions to attract aphid vectors and facilitate its transmission. We inoculated J+ and J- plants with CMV. Volatiles of J+ and J- CMV-infected plants were more attractive to aphids than those of J+ and J- mock-inoculated plants. However, in pairwise preference experiments with J+ CMV- and J- CMV-infected plants, aphids preferred the J- CMV volatile blend. Aphid reproduction on J+ and J- plants was measured as an indicator of the effect of PCV-1 on host quality for aphids. Aphid reproduction on J+ plants was more than 2-fold lower than that on J- plants.IMPORTANCE This study demonstrates that a persistent plant virus can manipulate aphid behavior. This manipulation is in stark contrast to previously described effects of acute viruses on their hosts that facilitate their transmission. This study demonstrates a positive relationship between Pepper cryptic virus 1 and jalapeño pepper (Capsicum annuum) plants wherein the virus protects the plants from the vector of acute viruses and reduces aphid herbivory. This work reveals an important implication of persistent plant viruses for pest and pathogen management in agriculture.

Redefining the medicago sativa alphapartitiviruses genome sequences

In alfalfa samples analyzed by hightroughput sequencing, four de novo assembled contigs encoding gene products showing identities to alphapartitiviruses proteins were found based on BlastX analysis. The predicted amino acid (aa) sequences of two contigs presented 99-100% identity to the RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRp) and the capsid protein (CP) of the recently reported medicago sativa alphapartitivirus 1 (MsAPV1). In addition, the remaining two contigs shared only 56% (CP) and 70% (RdRp) pairwise aa identity with the proteins of MsAPV1, suggesting that these samples presented also a novel Alphapartitivirus species. Further analyses based on complete genome segments termini and the presence/absence of alphapartitivirus RNA in several samples and public alfalfa RNA datasets corroborated the identification of two different alphapartitivirus members. Our results likely indicate that the reported MsAPV1 genome was previously reconstructed with genome segments of two different alphapartitiviruses. Overall, we not only revisited the MsAPV1 genome sequence but also report a new tentative alphapartitivirus species, which we propose the name medicago sativa alphapartitivirus 2. In addition, the RT-PCR detection of both MsAPV1 and MsAPV2 in several alfalfa cultivars suggests a broad distribution of both viruses.

Identification and genome analysis of tomato chlorotic spot virus and dsRNA viruses from coinfected vegetables in the Dominican Republic by high-throughput sequencing

The Tomato chlorotic spot virus (TCSV) was first reported in the 1980s, having its occurrence limited to Brazil and Argentina. Due to an apparent mild severity in the past, molecular studies concerning TCSV were neglected. However, TCSV has disseminated over the USA and Caribbean countries. In Dominican Republic TCSV has been recently reported on important cultivated crops such as pepper and beans. In this work, we provide the first complete genome of a TCSV isolate from symptomatic plants in Dominican Republic, which was obtained by high-throughput sequencing. In addition, three dsRNA viruses from different virus families were identified coinfecting these plants Bell pepper endornavirus (BPEV), Southern tomato virus (STV) and Pepper cryptic virus 2 (PCV-2). Phylogenetic analysis showed that the Dominican Republic TCSV isolate has a close relationship with other TCSV isolates and a reassortant isolate between TCSV and Groundnut ringspot virus (GRSV), all found in USA. BPEV, STV and PCV-2 isolates from Dominican Republic were close related to corresponding American isolates. The possible biological implications of these virus-mixed infections are discussed.

ICTV Virus Taxonomy Profile: Partitiviridae

The Partitiviridae is a family of small, isometric, non-enveloped viruses with bisegmented double-stranded (ds) RNA genomes of 3–4.8 kbp. The two genome segments are individually encapsidated. The family has five genera, with characteristic hosts for members of each genus: either plants or fungi for genera Alphapartitivirus and Betapartitivirus, fungi for genus Gammapartitivirus, plants for genus Deltapartitivirus and protozoa for genus Cryspovirus. Partitiviruses are transmitted intracellularly via seeds (plants), oocysts (protozoa) or hyphal anastomosis, cell division and sporogenesis (fungi); there are no known natural vectors. This is a summary of the International Committee on Taxonomy of Viruses (ICTV) Report on the taxonomy of the Partitiviridae, which is available at www.ictv.global/report/partitiviridae.

A novel alphapartitivirus detected in Japanese pear

Pyrus pyrifolia cryptic virus (PpCV) had been previously reported from Japanese pear (Pyrus pyrifolia). In analyses of Japanese pear, two other double-stranded (ds) RNA molecules (dsRNA4 and 5) were observed along with the three dsRNA segments from PpCV on an electrophoretic profile of isolated dsRNA. When the purified dsRNA sample was deep sequenced by a next-generation sequencer, two de novo assembled contigs corresponding to dsRNA4 and 5, with predicted amino acid sequences showing homologies to the RNA-dependent RNA polymerase and the capsid protein of Rose partitivirus, respectively, were found by BLAST analysis. The relationships between the two contigs and dsRNA4, 5 were confirmed by northern blot analyses with probes amplified using primers designed from the contigs. Terminal sequence analyses by rapid amplification of cDNA ends revealed that dsRNA4 and 5 were 1945 and 1788 bp long, respectively. The 5' terminal sequences (GUCAAAUU) of dsRNA4 and 5 were conserved. Based on genome size and phylogenetic analyses, the newly found virus is thought to be a member of the genus Alphapartitivirus. Thus, it has been designated as Pyrus pyrifolia partitivirus 2.

Identification of novel RNA viruses in alfalfa (Medicago sativa): an Alphapartitivirus, a Deltapartitivirus, and a Marafivirus

Genomic RNA molecules of plant RNA viruses are often co-isolated with the host RNAs, and their sequences can be detected in plant transcriptome datasets. Here, an alfalfa (Medicago sativa) transcriptome dataset was analyzed and three new RNA viruses were identified, which were named Medicago sativa alphapartitivirus 1 (MsAPV1), Medicago sativa deltapartitivirus 1 (MsDPV1), and Medicago sativa marafivirus 1 (MsMV1). The RNA-dependent RNA polymerases of MsAPV1, MsDPV1, and MsMV1 showed about 68%, 58%, and 46% amino acid sequence identity, respectively, with their closest virus species. Sequence similarity and phylogenetic analyses indicated that MsAPV1, MsDPV1, and MsMV1 were novel RNA virus species that belong to the genus Alphapartitivirus of the family Partitiviridae, the genus Deltapartitivirus of the family Partitiviridae, and the genus Marafivirus of the family Tymoviridae, respectively. The bioinformatics procedure applied in this study may facilitate the identification of novel RNA viruses from plant transcriptome data.

Molecular characterization of a novel cryptic virus infecting pigeonpea plants

A new member of the genus Deltapartitivirus was identified containing three dsRNAs with an estimated size of 1.71, 1.49 and 1.43 kb. The dsRNAs were extracted from symptomless pigeonpea [Cajanus cajan (L.) Millspaugh] plants cv. Erra Kandulu. This new virus with 4.64 kb genome was tentatively named Arhar cryptic virus-1 (ArCV-1). The genomic RNAs were amplified and characterized by sequence independent single primer amplification. The dsRNAs shared a highly conserved 16 nt 5' non-coding region (5'-GATAATGATCCAAGGA-3'). The largest dsRNA (dsRNA-1) was identified as the viral RNA dependent RNA polymerase (replicase), predicted to encode a putative 55.34 kDa protein (P1). The two other smaller dsRNAs (dsRNA-2 and dsRNA-3) predicted to encode for putative capsid proteins of 38.50kDa (P2) and 38.51kDa (P3), respectively. Phylogenetic analysis indicated that ArCV-1 formed a clade together with Fragaria chiloensis cryptic virus, Rosa multiflora cryptic virus and Rose cryptic virus-1, indicating that ArCV-1 could be a new member of the genus Deltapartitivirus. ArCV-1 3Dpol structure revealed several interesting features. The 3Dpol in its full-length shares structural similarities with members of the family Caliciviridaeand family Picornaviridae. In addition, fourth dsRNA molecule (dsRNA-2A), not related to ArCV-1 genome, was found in the same plant tissue. The dsRNA-2A (1.6 kb) encodes a protein (P4), with a predicted size of 44.5 kDa. P4 shares similarity with coat protein genes of several cryptic viruses, in particular the bipartite cryptic viruses including Raphanus sativus cryptic virus-3. This is the first report of occurrence of a cryptic virus in pigeonpea plants.

First record of Pepper cryptic virus 2 in chilli (Capsicum annuum) in India

The occurrence of Pepper cryptic virus 2 was confirmed by RT-PCR and partial sequencing of coat protein gene in chilli cultivars Jwalamukhi and Jwalasakhi grown in the experimental farm at IARI, New Delhi. To the best of our knowledge this is the first report of occurrence of cryptovirus in chilli in India.

Discovery and molecular characterization of a new cryptovirus dsRNA genome from Japanese persimmon through conventional cloning and high-throughput sequencing

Through the application of next generation sequencing, in synergy with conventional cloning of DOP-PCR fragments, two double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) molecules of about 1.5 kbp in size were isolated from leaf tissue of a Japanese persimmon (accession SSPI) from Apulia (southern Italy) showing veinlets necrosis. High-throughput sequencing allowed whole genome sequence assembly, yielding a 1,577 and a 1,491 bp contigs identified as dsRNA-1 and dsRNA-2 of a previously undescribed virus, provisionally named as Persimmon cryptic virus (PeCV). In silico analysis showed that both dsRNA fragments were monocistronic and comprised the RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRp) and the capsid protein (CP) genes, respectively. Phylogenetic reconstruction revealed a close relationship of these dsRNAs with those of cryptoviruses described in woody and herbaceous hosts, recently gathered in genus Deltapartitivirus. Virus-specific primers for RT-PCR, designed in the CP cistron, detected viral RNAs also in symptomless persimmon trees sampled from the same geographical area of SSPI, thus proving that PeCV infection may be fairly common and presumably latent.

Molecular characterization and population structure of blackberry vein banding associated virus, new Ampelovirus associated with yellow vein disease

Blackberry yellow vein disease is the most important viral disease of blackberry in the United States. Experiments were conducted to characterize a new virus identified in symptomatic plants. Molecular analysis revealed a genome organization resembling Grapevine leafroll-associated virus 3, the type species of the genus Ampelovirus in the family Closteroviridae. The genome of the virus, provisionally named blackberry vein banding associated virus (BVBaV), consists of 18,643 nucleotides and contains 10 open reading frames (ORFs). These ORFs encode closterovirid signature replication-associated and quintuple gene block proteins, as well as four additional proteins of unknown function. Phylogenetic analyses of taxonomically relevant products consistently placed BVBaV in the same cluster with GLRaV-3 and other members of the subgroup I of the genus Ampelovirus. The virus population structure in the U.S. was studied using the replication associated polyprotein 1a, heat shock 70 homolog and minor coat proteins of 25 isolates. This study revealed significant intra-species variation without any clustering among isolates based on their geographic origin. Further analyses indicated that these proteins are under stringent purifying selections. High genetic variability and incongruent clustering of isolates suggested the possible involvement of recombination in the evolution of BVBaV.

Molecular characterization of two evolutionarily distinct endornaviruses co-infecting common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris)

Two high-molecular-mass dsRNAs of approximately 14 and 15 kbp were isolated from the common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris) cultivar Black Turtle Soup. These dsRNAs did not appear to cause obvious disease symptoms, and were transmitted through seeds at nearly 100 % efficiency. Sequence information indicates that they are the genomes of distinct endornavirus species, for which the names Phaseolus vulgaris endornavirus 1 (PvEV-1) and Phaseolus vulgaris endornavirus 2 (PvEV-2) are proposed. The PvEV-1 genome consists of 13 908 bp and potentially encodes a single polyprotein of 4496 aa, while that of PvEV-2 consists of 14 820 bp and potentially encodes a single ORF of 4851 aa. PvEV-1 is more similar to Oryza sativa endornavirus, while PvEV-2 is more similar to bell pepper endornavirus. Both viruses have a site-specific nick near the 5′ region of the coding strand, which is a common property of the endornaviruses. Their polyproteins contain domains of RNA helicase, UDP-glycosyltransferase and RNA-dependent RNA polymerase, which are conserved in other endornaviruses. However, a viral methyltransferase domain was found in the N-terminal region of PvEV-2, but was absent in PvEV-1. Results of cell-fractionation studies suggested that their subcellular localizations were different. Most endornavirus-infected bean cultivars tested were co-infected with both viruses.

Bell pepper endornavirus: molecular and biological properties, and occurrence in the genus Capsicum

Bell peppers (Capsicum annuum) harbour a large dsRNA virus. The linear genome (14.7 kbp) of two isolates from Japanese and USA bell pepper cultivars were completely sequenced and compared. They shared extensive sequence identity and contained a single, long ORF encoding a 4815 aa protein. This polyprotein contained conserved motifs of putative viral methyltransferase (MTR), helicase 1 (Hel-1), UDP-glycosyltransferase and RNA-dependent RNA polymerase. This unique arrangement of conserved domains has not been reported in any of the known endornaviruses. Hence this virus, for which the name Bell pepper endornavirus (BPEV) is proposed, is a distinct species in the genus Endornavirus (family Endornaviridae). The BPEV-encoded polyprotein contains a cysteine-rich region between the MTR and Hel-1 domains, with conserved CXCC motifs shared among several endornaviruses, suggesting an additional functional domain. In agreement with general endornavirus features, BPEV contains a nick in the positive-strand RNA molecule. The virus was detected in all bell pepper cultivars tested and transmitted through seed but not by graft inoculations. Analysis of dsRNA patterns and RT-PCR using degenerate primers revealed putative variants of BPEV, or closely related species, infecting other C. annuum genotypes and three other Capsicum species (C. baccatum, C. chinense and C. frutescens).