Survey of plant viruses and viroids in Brazil, with emphasis on those infecting cactaceas, and the continuation on the organization of the list of plant viruses and viroids described in Brazil, after 2018. Phase IV

• Grant number: 24/06440-7
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants
• Start date: October 01, 2024
• End date: September 30, 2026
• Field of knowledge: Agronomical Sciences - Agronomy - Plant Health
• Principal Investigator: Elliot Watanabe Kitajima
• Grantee: Elliot Watanabe Kitajima
• Host Institution: Escola Superior de Agricultura Luiz de Queiroz (ESALQ). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Piracicaba , SP, Brazil
• Associated researchers: João Paulo Rodrigues Marques ; Jorge Alberto Marques Rezende ; Marcel Bellato Spósito

Abstract

This is a grant proposal on plant virology (Plant Pathology/Agricultural sciences) for a financial support to pursue a literature survey on plant virus researches in Brazil to update an annotated list of plant viruses/viroids described in Brazil.An initial annotated list covering the period 1926 to 2018 has been published in Biota Neotropica, and it is being continued for a future publication. A parallel activity, a line of research started at the beginning of the scientific carreer of the proponent em 1959, which is a survey, detection and identification of plant viruses in Brazil. These activities involve survey and sample collection, assays for virus identification (biological- mechanical and vector transmission/ morphological- light and electron microscopy/ serological tests/ molecular assays). For viral diseases of economical importance, strategies for their control will be developed, based on varietal screening, epidemiology, cultural procedures, etc.). In the present phase, a special attention will be given to cacti virome, on which few information are available in Brazil. World literature cite 29 distinct virus species, of 13 genera, infecting cacti, but only 4 potexviruses are described in Brazil.Additionally, dragon fruit is being cultivated worldwide, including Brazil. Preliminary surveys made in samples from different Brazilian regions have shown that most of dragon fruit cladodes or fruits are infected by potexviruses. Apparentely viruses apparently does not affect dragon fruit productiviy, but this fact will be verified experimentally. In case significant differences are observed, strategies to overcome the problem will be developed. (AU)

Scientific publications

(References retrieved automatically from Web of Science and SciELO through information on FAPESP grants and their corresponding numbers as mentioned in the publications by the authors)

GUIMARAES, JANDSON JOSE DO VALE; DEL CORONA, FERNANDA DE PADUA; BELLO, VINICIUS HENRIQUE; RAMOS-GONZALEZ, PEDRO LUIS; LORENZI, HARRI; KITAJIMA, ELLIOT WATANABE. First Report of Rattail Cactus Necrosis-Associated Virus (Tobamovirus muricaudae) in Symptomless Opuntia leucotricha in Brazil. JOURNAL OF PHYTOPATHOLOGY, v. 173, n. 2, p. 3-pg., 2025-03-01. (24/06440-7)