Molecular characterization of Tomato leaf curl virus infecting hollyhock (Alcea rosea L.) in India

The hollyhock plants exhibiting typical symptoms produced by begomovirus were collected and subjected to PCR analysis using specific primers to amplify viral DNA. PCR amplification and whole genome sequencing indicated the involvement of a DNA virus in hollyhock infection. The full-length genome of the virus infecting hollyhock has shown maximum nucleotide (nt) identity of 91% with Tomato leaf curl virus (ToLCV) (KP178730 and AY754812) infecting tomato in India. As per the presently applicable classification for DNA viruses (91% nt identity), the virus infecting hollyhock is a strain of ToLCV. The betasatellite associated with hollyhock leaf curl disease showed maximum nt identity of 88.4–88.9% with Cotton leaf curl Bangalore betasatellite (CLCuBaB) infecting cotton and okra in south India. Further recombination analysis showed that the genome fragments of the virus infecting hollyhock has been derived from already prevailing begomoviruses infecting diverse crops resulting in the evolution of recombinant virus. This is the first report of ToLCV infection in Hollyhock. © 2020, Indian Phytopathological Society.