Complete nucleotide sequence and genome organization of a Chinese isolate of tobacco bushy top virus *

Summary. The complete nucleotide sequence of a Chinese isolate of tobacco bushy top virus (TBTV), designated TBTV-Ch, was determined from cDNA generated from double-stranded RNA extracted from diseased tobacco. The genome is 4152 nucleotides (nt) in size, contains four putative open reading frames (ORFs) and untranslated regions of 10 nt and 645 nt at the 5′ and 3′ ends, respectively. In genome organization and in the amino acid sequence of its potential products, the RNA of TBTV-Ch is similar to other umbraviruses sequenced to date. The results suggested that TBTV should be regarded as a definitive species of the genus Umbravirus .