Avinash Marwal

Molecular characterizations of two begomoviruses infecting Vinca rosea and Raphanus sativus in India

Dear Editor Samples of Vinca rosea and Raphanus sativus leaves showing typical leaf curling were collected from gardens and fields of Bhatinda, Punjab (India). An expected product of～550 bp in size was amplified from total DNA extracts of symptomatic leaf samples with universal primers

Complete nucleotide sequence of a begomovirus associated with satellites molecules infecting a new host Tagetes patula in India

In the year 2012 leaf curl disease was observed on Marigold (Tagetes patula) in Lakshmangrh, Sikar province of India. Affected plants were severely stunted with apical leaf curl and crinkled leaves, symptoms typical of begomovirus infection. This is the first report of complete nucleotide sequence of a begomovirus associated with satellites molecules infecting a new host Tagetes patula in India.

Begomovirus associated with alternative host weeds: a critical appraisal

Weeds are widely distributed throughout the world and have high environmental adaptability. Weeds are considered as a source of new viruses and reservoirs of unidentified economically important viruses but are often neglected during diversity studies. Many scientific reports have demonstrated that weeds serve as reservoir or alternative hosts for begomovirus (family Geminiviridae) survival and spread in the absence of the main crops. Thus, there is a pressing need for additional information on the diversity and distribution of begomoviruses associated weeds, which likely serve as virus reservoirs. This review thus presents a tip of the iceberg of the diversity of begomoviruses associated weeds in India and other parts of the world.

Molecular in silico structure and recombination analysis of betasatellite in Calotropis procera associated with begomovirus

The uncharacterised betasatellite of begomovirus associated with Calotropis procera was characterised by using molecular and in silico tools and techniques. Attempts to identify the presence of a DNA-β in the infected C. procera samples, using rolling circular amplification (RCA) followed by restriction digestion, produced a ca. 1.4 kb product, corresponding to that expected for a full-length amplicon from a betasatellite, which was sequenced (accession number HQ631430). During BLASTp, analysis of second reading frame of HQ631430 (HQ631430/2-f) against Protein Databank revealed 35% identity with Tryptophanyl–tRNA synthetase of Giardia lamblia (3FOC). Ramachandran plot of HQ631430/2-f.pdb had only 57.1% residues in the most favoured region while 3FOC.pdb had 94.2% residues in the most favoured region; therefore, only template 3FOC.pdb model could be placed in good quality category. The protein binding function was predicted for HQ631430/2-f as an important functional site of the model with 0.29 confidence level through 3d2GO. The Croton yellow vein mosaic betasatellite (GU111995 CroYVMB) serve as major parent and Croton yellow vein mosaic betasatellite-Panipat 8 (HM143908 PaLCuVM) as minor parent for HQ631430. Perhaps this is the first report of recombination in Croton yellow vein mosaic betasatellite (HQ631430).

Recognition of Errors in the Refinement and Validation of Three-Dimensional Structures of AC1 Proteins of Begomovirus Strains by Using ProSA-Web

The structural model of begomovirus AC1 protein is useful for understanding biological function at molecular level and docking study. For this study we have used the ProSA program (Protein Structure Analysis) tool to establish the structure prediction and modeling of protein. This tool was used for refinement and validation of experimental protein structures. Potential problems of protein structures based on energy plots are easily seen by ProSA and are displayed in a three-dimensional manner. In the present study we have selected different AC1 proteins of begomovirus strains (YP_003288785, YP_002004579, and YP_003288773) for structural analysis and display of energy plots that highlight potential problems spotted in protein structures. The 3D models of Rep proteins with recognized errors can be effectively used for in silico docking study for development of potential ligand molecules against begomovirus infection.

First report of airborne begomovirus infection in Melia azedarach (Pride of India), an ornamental tree in India

The begomovirus infection in plants has been widely reported throughout the world. The chief carrier of this virus is the whitefly. All of the reports, however, concern plants that grow at a stumpy height from the ground; moreover, the whitefly transmits the begomovirus infection to plants at this low height only by residing under their leaves. To date, there has been no record of the begomovirus infection in trees as the prevalence of the whitefly at tree level is unlikely. For this reason, this study focuses on and presents the first report of airborne begomovirus infection in an ornamental tree—the Melia azedarach (or Pride of India) found on the Indian subcontinent.

Bio-Reductive Synthesis and Characterization of Plant Protein Coated Magnetite Nanoparticles

Over the past two decades, there have been increased emphases on the topic of green chemistry and chemical processes. Utilization of non toxic chemicals, environmentally benign solvents, and renewable materials are some of the key issues that merit important consideration in a green synthetic strategy. The Datura Inoxia leaves possesses biomolecules such as cardiac glycosides, proteins, phenolic compounds, flavonoids and sugar, which could be used as reducing agent to react with ferrous and ferric ions and as scaffolds to direct the formation of Fe3O4 NPs in solution. To the best of our knowledge, the use of Dhatura innoxia plant extract at room temperature for the bio-reductive synthesis of Fe3O4 nanoparticles has not been reported. The formation of the Fe3O4 magnetic nanoparticles was first monitored using UV-Vis absorption spectroscopy. FT-IR spectroscopy and TGA/DTG analysis further confirms the formation of plant protein coated magnetite nanobio hybrid. The dried form of synthesized nanoparticles was further characterized using XRD, TEM.

First report on the association of a begomovirus with chrysanthemum indicum exhibiting yellowing of leaf vein disease characterized by molecular studies

ABSTRACT Infected leaf samples of an ornamental plant Chrysanthemum indicum showing yellowing of leaf veins were collected from gardens of New Delhi (India). An expected PCR product of size ~500 bp was amplified from total DNA extracts of symptomatic leaf samples with universal primers on the gene of coat protein region of begomovirus DNA-A component. The presence of begomoviruses was also confirmed by Southern blot analysis using control cloned DNA-A probe of Cotton leaf curl virus. Sequence analysis of the virus infecting Chrysanthemum indicum showed 99% nucleotide sequence identity with Clerodendron yellow mosaic virus (EF408037).

Molecular Characterization of Begomoviruses and DNA Satellites Associated with a New Host Spanish Flag (Lantana camara) in India

In the year 2010 yellowing of leaf vein disease was observed on Spanish Flag (Lantana camara) in Sirsa, Haryana province, India. There was no earlier report of association of begomovirus and DNA satellites with Lantana camara. Therefore, molecular characterization and understanding of the genomic analysis of begomovirus infecting Lantana camara is imperative for the pathogen diagnosis and disease management. This is the first report and molecular characterization of a begomovirus associated with its two satellites infecting a new host Lantana camara in India.

In Silico Study of the Geminiviruses Infecting Ornamental Plants

Over the past few decades, there has been more interest in Geminiviruses, especially Mastrevirus and Begomovirus, as many of the diseases they cause have now reached epidemic magnitude. Ornamental plants are widely distributed in India and across the globe having high environmental adaptability. Their farming forms a major branch of horticulture. At most of the places, crops stay in the field for a particular season, while different ornamental plants grow in or nearby these agricultural fields throughout the year. Ornamental plants serve as an alternative host for Geminiviruses in the absence of the main crops and considered as a source of new viruses or reservoirs of unidentified viruses which are often neglected during diversity studies. Ornamental plants may allow the spread and transmission of Geminiviruses back to crop plants when the cropping season returns, which enhances the host range of these viruses. Thus, there is a pressing need for additional information on the diversity and distribution of Geminiviruses in ornamental plants.