Detection of orthotospoviruses in medicinal plants in China

The genus Orthotospovirus contains a variety of viruses that infect more than 1000 plant species of 82 families. Nine medicinal plant species were found to exhibit symptoms that are typical of plant viral infections. Foliar samples of diseased plants were taken, and double-antibody sandwich ELISA (DAS-ELISA) and reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) analyses were used to detect the viruses in the diseased plants. The results revealed that Capsicum chlorosis orthotospovirus (CaCV) was present in Salvia miltiorrhiza and Valeriana jatamansi. Impatiens necrotic spot orthotospovirus (INSV) was identified in Plantago asiatica, Scrophularia ningpoensis and Iris tectorum. Tomato spotted wilt orthotospovirus (TSWV) was detected in Perilla frutescens, while Tomato zonate spot orthotospovirus (TZSV) was found in Codonopsis spp., Marsdenia tenacissima and Dipsacus asper. Phylogenetic tree analysis also reflected the high consistency of sequences. To our knowledge, this is the first report of CaCV in Salvia miltiorrhiza and Valeriana jatamansi and INSV in Plantago asiatica, Scrophularia ningpoensis and Iris tectorum. This is also the first report of TSWV infecting Perilla frutescens and TZSV infecting Codonopsis spp., Marsdenia tenacissima and Dipsacus asper.