A Survey of Mycoviral Infection in Fusarium spp. Isolated from Maize and Sorghum in Argentina Identifies the First Mycovirus from Fusarium verticillioides

JACQUAT, ANDRÉS GUSTAVO; THEUMER, MARTÍN GUSTAVO; CAÑIZARES, MARÍA CARMEN; DEBAT, HUMBERTO JULIO; IGLESIAS, JULIANA; GARCÍA PEDRAJAS, MARÍA DOLORES; DAMBOLENA, JOSÉ SEBASTIÁN

Viruses

MDPI

Lugar: Basel; Año: 2020 vol. 12

ycoviruses appear to be widespread in Fusarium species worldwide. The aim of this work was to identify mycoviral infections in Fusarium spp., isolated from maize and sorghum grown in Argentina, and to estimate their potential effects on the pathogenicity and toxigenesis of the host fungus towards maize. Mycoviruses were identified in 2 out of 105 isolates analyzed; Fusarium verticillioides strain Sec505 and Fusarium andiyazi strain 162. They were characterized as members of the genus Mitovirus by high-throughput sequencing and sequence analysis. The F. verticillioides mitovirus was a novel mycovirus whereas the F. andiyazi mitovirus was found to be a new strain of a previously identified mitovirus. We have named these mitoviruses, Fusarium verticillioides mitovirus 1 (FvMV1) and Fusarium andiyazi mitovirus 1 strain 162 (FaMV1-162). To our knowledge, FvMV1 is the first mycovirus reported as naturally infecting F. verticillioides, the major causal agent of ear rot and fumonisin producer