A clade of telosma mosaic virus from Thailand is undergoing geographical expansion and genetic differentiation in passionfruit of Vietnam and China

Abstract Passionfruit ( Passiflora edulis ) is widely cultivated in tropical and subtropical regions around the world. Several viruses of genus Potyvirus pose serious threat to passion fruit production. The origin, dispersal evolution these potyviruses, however, are poorly understood. Here, we investigated genetic structure telosma mosaic virus (TelMV), a potyvirus that infects passionfruit East Southeast Asia, after survey its incidence plants China. phylogeny inferred from 140 nucleotide sequences coat protein (CP) gene TelMV, including 96 determined this study, separated into 4 clades. TelMV isolates were placed Clade 1–3, while those other plant species 4. Interestingly, Thailand found all three clades but China Vietnam exclusively 1. Nevertheless, within 1 tended cluster according their geographical origin. Geographical populations Thailand, Taiwan Hainan islands showed significant differences with one another Guangxi, Fujian, Guangdong, Yunnan Jiangsu provinces Altogether, data suggest several distinct had arisen only which was dispersed. In expanding distribution, clade has undergone geography-associated evolution. Further studies on hypothesis may shed new insights mechanisms underlying emergence potyviral diseases plants.