Genome characterization of zucchini yellow mosaic virus infecting cucurbits reveals the presence of a new genotype in Trinidad and Tobago in the Caribbean region.

Zucchini yellow mosaic virus (ZYMV) is a member of the genus Potyvirus that is becoming a serious pathogen of pumpkin and other cucurbits in Trinidad and Tobago and the entire Caribbean region. In this study, four ZYMV isolates infecting pumpkin in Trinidad and Tobago were characterized by complete genome sequencing. Phylogenetic analysis showed 5.9-6.0% nt and 7.7-7.9% aa sequence divergence in comparison to the most closely related isolates NAT and AG from Israel and SE04T from Slovakia. Based on the variations in the complete genome sequence as well as individual gene sequences, a new genotype, designated ZYMV-Trini, is proposed for these isolates. Among the gene sequences of ZYMV-Trini isolates, the greatest variation was observed in the HC-Pro gene, with 20.8% aa sequence divergence from their closest relatives, whereas the least variation was observed in the NIb, P3, and CP genes, with 1.8-2.2% aa sequence divergence. This study also showed that transmission of ZYMV can occur through seeds, but this was less common than transmission via the aphid Aphis gossypii. The progression of ZYMV in pumpkin seedlings was quantified by RT-qPCR, which showed a rapid surge in viral load after 37 days. From recombination analysis, it could be concluded that the isolates SE04T from Slovakia, NAT from Israel, and AG from Israel have made major contributions to the genome architecture of ZYMV-Trini isolates.