First identification and characterization of cucumber mosaic virus from Corchorus olitorius in Japan

CMV infected in Corchorus olitorius plants cultivated on a farm in Miyagi Prefecture, Japan, was analyzed via western blotting using antibody against the coat protein of cucumber mosaic virus (CMV). The virus was purified from Nicotiana benthamiana leaves rub-inoculated with a homogenate of infected C. olitorius containing CMV genomic RNA. The CMV isolate was named CMV-Co-46. Nucleotide sequence analysis of RNA1, 2, and 3 cDNA grouped CMV-Co-46 in subgroup IA. Inoculation of C. olitorius cotyledons with CMV-Co-46 resulted in slight yellowing on primary and secondary leaves seven days after inoculation and severely suppressing plant growth. However, no further systemic spread was observed and the infected plants were able to recover from the stunting symptoms. These findings suggest that restricted infection followed by recovery from systemic stunting may be a unique feature of the C. olitorius response to CMV. Management of CMV infection at an early growth stage is therefore important in obtaining healthy nursery plants of C. olitorius.