ORIGINAL RESEARCH article
Front. Plant Sci.
Sec. Plant Pathogen Interactions
Volume 16 - 2025 | doi: 10.3389/fpls.2025.1580000
This article is part of the Research TopicOmics Applications for Pathogen Control and Disease ResistanceView all 8 articles
Genomic Insights into Host-Associated Variants and Transmission Features of ToBRFV Isolate from Mexico
Provisionally accepted
Erika Zamora-Macorra1
Daniel Leobardo Ochoa-Martínez2Claudia Chavarín-Camacho1Rosemarie W Hammond3
Katia Aviña-Padilla4*- 1Chapingo Autonomous University, Texcoco, México, Mexico
- 2Colegio de Postgraduados (COLPOS), Montecillo, Mexico
- 3Beltsville Agricultural Research Center, Agricultural Research Service (USDA), Beltsville, Maryland, United States
- 4Unidad Irapuato (CINVESTAV), Irapuato, Mexico
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Tomato brown rugose fruit virus (ToBRFV) is a global threat to tomato and pepper production due to its high transmissibility and adaptability. This study characterizes the genome and biological properties of a ToBRFV isolated from Mexico, focusing on genomic variability, host-associated sequence patterns, and seed transmission potential. Phylogenetic analysis revealed close genetic proximity to strains from Mexico, USA, Canada, Israel and China, suggesting shared transmission routes. Comparative genomic analysis with 100 global genomes confirmed overall sequence stability but highlighted single nucleotide variants (SNVs) within the 126-kDa replicase, particularly in the methyltransferase domain. These SNVs exhibited host-associated distributions, with conserved profiles in tomato and unique substitutions in Capsicum annum, Solanum nigrum and Citrullus lanatus isolates. While further experimental validation is needed, the methyltransferase domain may represent a region subject to differential evolutionary pressures across hosts. Experimental bioassays confirmed susceptibility in additional solanaceous species, including Physalis ixocarpa and Solanum melongena, supporting limited host range expansion under controlled conditions. Seed transmission assays in Nicotiana rustica revealed a ~30% reduction in germination rates from infected plants and lowfrequency viral detection in seedlings, suggesting potential impacts on seed viability and biosecurity. This study provides insights into the genetic conservation, host interactions, and transmission features of the Mexican ToBRFV isolate, contributing to improved risk assessment and management strategies.
Keywords: ToBRFV, Genomic variability, Host-specific adaptation, Seed-borne transmission, Tomato, Single nucleotide variants, Snvs, Agricultural biosecurity
Received: 19 Feb 2025; Accepted: 07 Jul 2025.
Copyright: © 2025 Zamora-Macorra, Ochoa-Martínez, Chavarín-Camacho, Hammond and Aviña-Padilla. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) or licensor are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.
* Correspondence: Katia Aviña-Padilla, Unidad Irapuato (CINVESTAV), Irapuato, Mexico
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