The Plant Virus Biodiversity and Ecology project is dedicated towards inventorying the viruses of the plant species of the Nature Conservancy’s Tallgrass Prairie Preserve in northern Oklahoma. From 2005 until 2008, we have sampled specimens of more than 500 plant species. Furthermore, we have selected six target plant species for more intensive study (Ambrosia psilostachya, Asclepias viridis, Panicum virgatum, Ruellia humilis, Sorghastrum nutans, Vernonia baldwinii).
Results/Conclusions To date, we have determined the presence of several dozen virus species (most of them new to science) across a range of host plant species. Most hosts show no obvious disease symptoms. Of particular interest is a novel tymovirus, closely related to Kennedya yellow mosaic virus, most frequently detected from Asclepias viridis. Intriguingly, we have also detected signatures of this virus in a grass species, two legumes, and a fern. The inferred phylogeny of the new virus has no clear relationship with habitat, spatial location, or host taxonomy. The presence of a common, generalist virus has potential implications for lateral gene transfer and habitat specificity of plants.
