Complete nucleotide sequences of M and L RNAs from a new pepper-infecting tospovirus, Pepper chlorotic spot virus

Pepper chlorotic spot virus (PCSV), newly found in Taiwan, was identified as a new tospovirus based on the molecular characterization of its S RNA. In this study, the complete M and L RNA sequences of PCSV were determined. The M RNA has 4795 nucleotides (nts), encoding the NSm protein of 311 aa (34.5 kDa) in the viral (v) strand and the glycoprotein precursor (Gn/Gc) of 1122 aa (127.6 kDa) in the viral complementary (vc) strand. The L RNA has 8859 nts, encoding the RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRp) of 2873 aa (330.8 kDa) in the vc strand. Analyses of the NSm, Gn/Gc and RdRp of PCSV revealed that PCSV is phylogenetically clustered within the watermelon silver mottle virus-related clade. Based on the whole genome sequence, PCSV is closely related to Tomato necrotic ringspot virus and should be classified as a new tospovirus species.