Sequencing studies for the identification and characterization of new and old Rubus viruses

In Europe, raspberry plants are commonly infected with a complex of aphid-transmitted viruses that together cause raspberry mosaic disease (RMD). During the previous 30 years, by grafting and vector transmission to a range of red and black raspberry cultivars, these viruses have been loosely characterized and identified as Raspberry leaf spot virus (RLSV), Raspberry leaf mottle Virus (RLMV), Black raspberry necrosis virus (BRNV) and Rubus yellow net virus. An additional, very widespread virus, Raspberry vein chlorosis virus (RVCV), is spread by a different aphid vector. Recently some sequence data have been obtained for RYNV, BRNV and Raspberry mottle virus (RMoV), a virus found in plants showing RMD symptoms. We have carried out sequencing studies using random amplification and mass analysis approaches and will present information on the relationship between RMoV, RLSV and RLMV, as well as the first data for RVCV and a novel, possibly segmented minus-strand RNA virus infecting raspberry.