Biological, immunological and molecular characterization of Tobamoviruses infecting Hibiscus rosa sinensis in Brazil

• Grant number: 13/25675-0
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: April 01, 2014
• End date: March 31, 2015
• Field of knowledge: Agronomical Sciences - Agronomy - Plant Health
• Principal Investigator: Elliot Watanabe Kitajima
• Grantee: Pedro Moretti Alves
• Host Institution: Escola Superior de Agricultura Luiz de Queiroz (ESALQ). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Piracicaba , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Hibiscus spp. are ornamental malvaceae, with many species with origins at Australasia and Africa, usually cultivated in parks, home gardens and hedges. Hibiscus rosa sinensis is the most common species, with sizes varying from miniplants to tal shrubs, with flowers of diferent colors and sizes. Other Hibiscus species commonly cultivared are H. schizopetalus and H. syriacus. These plants are normally propagated vegetatively, a practice wich tends to accumulated pathogens, especially viruses, which may affect the quality of the plant. There has been described many viruses in Hibiscus spp., and most of them was identified in Brazil. Tobamoviruses have been recently detected and identified in Hibiscus spp. One in Singapore (Hibiscus latente vírus Singapore- HLVS), another in the US (Hibiscus latente vírus Fort Pierce), similar but with genome difference enough to be considered presently as diferent species. In a recente survey of Hibiscus viruses, a possible tobamovirus was found in a plant collected a Limeira, SP. The aim of this Project is to characterize this isolated using biological, morphological, immunological and molecular methods to confirm its identity. Purification of this isolate is programmed to produce specific antiserum. Experimental host range and an evaluation of possible losses caused by vírus in being considered, as well as attempts to produce vírus-free plants. A Project of this kind is being considered as suitable for a Scientific Initiation program, to train the candidate in the basic techniques of plant virology.