The nuclear shuttle protein determines host-range specificity of Tomato leaf curl New Delhi virus strains in tomato and cucurbit plants

Le résumé fourni par la source

The bipartite begomovirus Tomato leaf curl New Delhi virus (ToLCNDV) causes major losses in solanaceous and cucurbit crops, yet strains differ in their ability to infect tomato and in virulence. To identify viral factors controlling host specificity and virulence, we compared agro-clones of the cucurbit-restricted CB strain and the Jessore (Jes) strain, which infects both tomato and cucurbits. Co-inoculations with agro-clones of the monopartite begomoviruses Tomato yellow leaf curl virus (TYLCV) and Tomato yellow leaf curl Sardinia virus (TYLCSV) were performed to test whether these viruses influence CB infectivity in tomato. CB DNA-A infected tomato only when paired with Jes DNA-B, demonstrating that DNA-B determines host specificity. Transient expression of the Jes DNA-B–encoded Nuclear Shuttle Protein (NSP) enabled CB DNA-A+B to systemically infect tomato, identifying NSP as the key host-range determinant. CB caused stronger symptoms in cucumber, and CB DNA-A enhanced virulence in tomato when combined with Jes DNA-B, highlighting DNA-A as a determinant of virulence. Our study highlights the roles of specific viral factors in shaping host specificity and disease severity, offering insights into the evolution of begomovirus strains.

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