New Record of Catharanthus yellow mosaic virus and a Betasatellite Associated with Lethal Leaf Yellowing of Kalmegh (Andrographis paniculata) in Northern India

Andrographis paniculata (Family Acanthaceae), also called Kalmegh, is a medicinal herb in India well-known for its various pharmaceutical properties (1). In August 2012, during a survey in the northern parts of India, several Kalmegh plants in Barabanki District of Uttar Pradesh Province showed typical virus-like symptoms along with prominent lethal leaf yellowing. The infected plants initially showed some chlorotic streaks, which later turned completely yellow, ultimately leading to premature death. Mechanical/sap inoculation failed to transmit the pathogen. Based on the symptomology, a heavy infestation of whiteflies (Bemisia tabaci) in the infected fields, and lack of mechanical transmission, the association of a begomovirus was suspected. The disease incidence was calculated to be about 15 to 20% on the basis of plant population. Twenty samples from naturally infected plants of A. paniculata were collected from various field locations. Total genomic DNA from the symptomatic and non-symptomatic samples...