Abstract
We have found various double-stranded RNAs (dsRNAs) from many species of crops and wild plants. Some of these dsRNAs are already classified as viruses, but their properties are plasmid-like. The International Committee on Taxonomy of Viruses recently accepted Endornavirus, large (about 14 kbp) plasmid-like dsRNA replions, as a new genus. However, the sequence information of endornaviruses is limited and only three dsRNAs have been sequenced entirely. We have established the partial nucleotide sequences of the RNA-dependent RNA polymerase regions from the large dsRNAs (about 14 kbp) isolated from barley (Hordeum vulgare), kidney bean (Phaseolus vulgaris), melon (Cucumis melo), bottle gourd (Lagenaria siceraria), Malabar spinach (Basella alba), seagrass (Zostera marina), and the fungus Helicobasidium mompa. Phylogenetic analyses of these seven dsRNAs with known endornaviruses and single-stranded RNA (ssRNA) viruses indicate that these dsRNAs are new members of Endornavirus that are widely distributed over plants and fungi.
