DESCRIPTION OF VIRUSES

Subviral Agents: Viroids

Genus Coleviroid

Genus Coleviroid

Type Species

Coleus blumei viroid 1

(CbVd-1)

Distinguishing Features

A circular ssRNA between 248 and 250-251 bases depending on isolates and sequence variants. The most stable secondary structure is a rod-like or quasi-rod-like conformation with five domains and a central conserved region (CCR) (Fig. 2). Replication most probably occurs through an asymmetric rolling-circle model by analogy with PSTVd (Fig. 3). Known hosts are confined to Coleus genus. Identified in Brazil, Canada and Germany.

Fusion of the right-hand part and the CCR of Coleus blumei viroid 1 (CbVd-1) with the left-hand part of Coleus blumei viroid 3 (CbVd-3) leads to the recombinant Coleus blumei viroid 2 (CbVd-2) which, therefore, is composed of two essentially unchanged parental sequences whose joining points are characterized by a sharply defined boundary.

List of Species Demarcation Criteria in the Genus

An arbitrary level of less than 90% sequence similarity and distinct biological properties, particularly host range, currently separates species within genera.

List of Species in the Genus

Official viroid species names are in italics. Tentative names, alternative names ( ), or strains are not italicized. Viroid names, CMI/AAB description numbers ( ), genomic accession numbers of typical sequence variants [ ], sizes {b}, and assigned abbreviations ( ) are:

Species in the Genus

Coleus blumei viroid 1

[X52960]

{248, 250-251}

(CbVd-1)

Coleus blumei viroid 2

[X95365]

{301-302}

(CbVd-2)

Coleus blumei viroid 3

[X95364]

{361-362, 364}

(CbVd-3)

Tentative Species in the Genus

None reported.


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