The virome of the panglobal, wide host-range plant pathogen Phytophthora cinnamomi: phylogeography and evolutionary insights

Abstract

<i>Phytophthora cinnamomi</i> stands out as one of the most devastating plant pathogens worldwide, rapidly expanding its range and impacting a wide range of host species. In this study, we investigated the virome of <i>P. cinnamomi</i> across 222 isolates from Africa, Asia, Europe, Oceania, and the Americas using stranded total RNA sequencing, reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction screening, and Sanger sequencing of selected isolates. Our analysis revealed that virus infections were prevalent across all sampled populations, including RNA viruses associated with the orders <i>Ghabrivirales, Martellivirales</i>, and <i>Tolivirales</i>, and the classes <i>Amabiliviricetes, Bunyaviricetes</i>, and the recently proposed <i>Orpoviricetes</i>. Viruses were mainly found in East and Southeast Asian populations, within the geographic origin of <i>P. cinnamomi</i> but have also spread to new regions where the pathogen has emerged as a clonal destructive pathogen. Among the identified viruses, eight species, including two bunya-like viruses, one narna-like virus, and five ormycoviruses, exhibit a global distribution with some genetic divergence between continents. The interaction between <i>P. cinnamomi</i> and its virome indicates a dynamic coevolution across diverse geographic regions. Indonesia is indicated to be the viral epicentre of <i>P. cinnamomi</i>, with the highest intra- and interspecies diversity of viruses. Viral diversity is significantly enhanced in regions where sexual recombination of <i>P. cinnamomi</i> occurs, while regions with predominantly asexual reproduction harbour fewer viral species. Interestingly, only the partially self-fertile mating type (MAT) A2, associated with the global pandemic, facilitates the spread of viruses across different biogeographic regions, whereas viruses are absent in the self-sterile MAT A1 in its areas of introduction like Australia and South Africa. Intriguingly, the presence of a plant tombusvirus suggests a potential cross-kingdom infection among Chilean isolates and a plant host. This study sheds further light on the geographical origin of <i>P. cinnamomi</i> from a novel virome perspective.

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