Comparative Analysis of Tissue Tropism of Bipartite Geminiviruses

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Abstract
Abutilonmosaic virus (AbMV), a bipartite geminivirus of the genus Begomovirus, has been vegetatively propagated for many years inAbutilon sellovianumin which it is strictly phloem‐restricted. Usingin situhybridization and immunological analyses, the tissue tropism of AbMV in the laboratory hostNicotiana benthamianawas compared with that of two other bipartite begomoviruses, African cassava mosaic virus (ACMV) and tomato golden mosaic virus (TGMV). Analysis of the first systemically infected leaves and longitudinal sections of axillary and flower buds revealed that all three viruses are initially confined to the vascular traces, although both ACMV and TGMV are later detectable in nearly all tissue types. In contrast, AbMV remained strictly phloem‐limited in this host throughout the course of infection. The ability of ACMV and TGMV to move out ofN. benthamianaphloem tissues is correlated with the development of severe symptoms in comparison with the mild symptoms associated with AbMV infection. It was also demonstrated thatSida micranthamosaic virus, a virus that is closely related to AbMV, is phloem‐limited inMalva parvifloraeven though it induces severe leaf curl, stunting and necrosis in this host. The present data demonstrate that bipartite begomoviruses can exhibit strikingly different patterns of tissue tropism.

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