Metaviromic analysis reveals coinfection of papaya in western Kenya with a unique strain of Moroccan watermelon mosaic virus and a novel member of the family Alphaflexiviridae

Abstract

Severe mottling symptoms were observed on Carica papaya L. in Koyonzo, Kakamega County, Kenya. Total RNA was sequenced via an RNAtag-seq workflow. Assembled contigs indicated the presence of a divergent strain of Moroccan watermelon mosaic virus (genus Potyvirus) with a complete genome length of 9,733 nt (GenBank accession no. MN418119). Additionally, the complete genome sequence of a novel member of the viral genus Allexivirus was determined (GenBank accession no. MN418120). The genome contains six open reading frames (ORFs) that show varying degrees of sequence similarity to members of the genus Allexivirus; however, it appears to lack an ORF encoding a nucleic-acid-binding homolog. The tentative name “papaya virus A” (PaVA) has been proposed for this virus.