A new monopartite Begomovirus associated with betasatellite molecule causing leaf curl disease of chilli in India.

Leaf curl disease in chilli is one of the major constraints to the production of chilli (Capsicum annum L.) in the Indian subcontinent which is caused by begomovirus and associated satellite. The full-length genome of begomovirus and its cognate betasatellite DNA component associated with chilli leaf curl disease (ChiLCD) originating from Bijnour, Uttar Pradesh (U.P.), region of India were cloned and sequenced. The pairwise nucleotide sequence identity shared <91% identity with DNA-A segment of Tomato leaf curl New Delhi virus (ToLCNDV), while betasatellite DNA shared highest nucleotide identity (>90%) with Tomato leaf curl Bangladesh betasatellite (ToLCBDB). According to new species demarcation rules, we hereby, report identification of a new begomovirus species infecting chilli plant in natural conditions, and we propose to name as, Chilli leaf curl Bijnour virus. Head to tail tandem repeat dimers of DNA-A and betasatellite DNA were prepared and agroinoculated into chilli plant, which later showed slight curling and mosaic development in leaves, thus fulfilling the Koch?s postulates.