Characterization of a strain of tobacco mosaic virus from Petunia

Petunia plants collected in Sao Paulo City, Brazil, showing yellow mosaic, were naturally infected by a virus of the genus Tobamovirus identified according to particle morphology and size, host range, physical properties and cytopathic effects. On the basis of serological properties, amino acid composition and nucleotide sequence of the coat protein gene, the virus isolate was identified as a new strain of Tobacco mosaic virus (TMV-p). A conspicuous feature of this virus infection is the presence of virus-like particles within the mitochondrial matrix. The data from phylogenetic analysis indicate that TMV-p belongs to subgroup 1 of the genus Tobamovirus.