Genomic characterization of a novel emaravirus, ti ringspot-associated virus 2, infecting Cordyline fruticosa.

A putative new emaravirus, provisionally named ti ringspot-associated virus 2 (TiRSaV2), was identified in a ti plant (Cordyline fruticosa) exhibiting ringspot and chlorotic symptoms in Fujian Province, China. Five negative-sense RNA segments, 7,041, 1,994, 1,526, 1,484, and 1,329 nucleotides in length, respectively, were identified for TiRSaV2. Each segment contains a single open reading frame predicted to encode an RNA-dependent RNA polymerase, a glycoprotein precursor, a movement protein, a nucleocapsid protein and a putative P5 protein, respectively. The five predicted proteins shared maximum amino acid sequence identities of 47.0%, 34.9%, 62.1%, 40.2% and 40.1%, respectively, with their closest known emaravirus homologs. Phylogenetic analyses consistently placed TiRSaV2 in a lineage distinct from previously reported emaraviruses including ti ringspot-associated virus from Hawaii. These genomic and phylogenetic features support the recognition of TiRSaV2 as a distinct putative species within the genus Emaravirus.