Betarhabdovirinae; Rhabdoviridae; Data sharing; High-throughput sequencing; Taxonomic diversity
Abstract :
[en] [en] UNLABELLED: Plant-infecting rhabdoviruses (family Rhabdoviridae, subfamily Betarhabdovirinae) include several viruses that cause important crop diseases and are subject to phytosanitary regulation. Despite their agricultural and ecological importance, the diversity of plant rhabdoviruses and their impact on plant health remain poorly understood. Here, we report 32 tentative novel species of plant-infecting rhabdoviruses, identified via high-throughput sequencing and spanning nine established genera. The virus sequences originated from diverse hosts and geographic regions, revealing extensive diversity within the family Rhabdoviridae. Several viruses were detected independently in the same host species across multiple countries, demonstrating the practical value of data sharing for confirming host associations and gaining insight into the geographic distribution of these viruses. Our study highlights the underexplored diversity of plant rhabdoviruses and demonstrates the value of coordinated, collaborative virus discovery. With HTS now widely accessible, the challenge has shifted from virus discovery to making sequence data and metadata publicly available, and to conducting the time-consuming biological characterization often deprioritized in favour of viruses with immediate phytosanitary relevance. As a result, many findings remain unreported, leaving valuable data dormant on servers. By sharing genomic data prior to publication, we present an efficient approach to accelerate virus reporting, enable comparative analyses and advance understanding of virus diversity. We hope this collaborative effort will encourage further exploration of plant viruses, including those from hosts without discernable symptoms, supporting virus biology, taxonomy, pest risk assessments, and plant health policies.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s00705-026-06609-1.
Disciplines :
Biotechnology
Author, co-author :
Botermans, Marleen ; Invasive Plants and Plant Health, Netherlands Institute for Vectors, National Plant Protection Organization, Netherlands Food and Product Safety Authority (NVWA), Wageningen, The Netherlands. m.botermans@nvwa.nl
de Koning, P P M ; Invasive Plants and Plant Health, Netherlands Institute for Vectors, National Plant Protection Organization, Netherlands Food and Product Safety Authority (NVWA), Wageningen, The Netherlands
Westenberg, M; Invasive Plants and Plant Health, Netherlands Institute for Vectors, National Plant Protection Organization, Netherlands Food and Product Safety Authority (NVWA), Wageningen, The Netherlands
Adams, I P; Fera Science Ltd, York, UK
Mansour, K Ben; Ecology, Diagnostics and Genetic Resources of Agriculturally Important Viruses, Fungi and Phytoplasmas, Czech Agrifood Research Center, Prague, Czech Republic ; Department of Plant Protection, Faculty of Agrobiology, Food and Natural Resources, Czech University of Life Sciences Prague, Prague, Czech Republic ; Department of Plant Biology, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Uppsala, Sweden
Chabi-Jesus, C; Applied Molecular Biology Laboratory, Instituto Biológico de São Paulo, Av. Conselheiro Rodrigues Alves, São Paulo, Brazil
de Krom, C; Invasive Plants and Plant Health, Netherlands Institute for Vectors, National Plant Protection Organization, Netherlands Food and Product Safety Authority (NVWA), Wageningen, The Netherlands
Dullemans, A M; Wageningen University and Research, Wageningen, The Netherlands
Festus, R; Natural Resources Institute, University of Greenwich, Central Avenue, Chatham Maritime, Kent, UK ; Department of Agricultural Science and Plant Protection, Mississippi State University, Mississippi, USA
Fowkes, A R; Fera Science Ltd, York, UK
Fox, A; Fera Science Ltd, York, UK
Freitas-Astúa, J; Applied Molecular Biology Laboratory, Instituto Biológico de São Paulo, Av. Conselheiro Rodrigues Alves, São Paulo, Brazil ; EMBRAPA Cassava and Fruits, Cruz das Almas, Bahia, Brazil
Hajizadeh, M; Department of Plant Protection, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Kurdistan, Sanandaj, Iran
Hellin, P; Plant and Forest Health Unit, Life Sciences Department, Walloon Agricultural Research Center (CRA-W), Gembloux, Belgium
Knierim, D; Plant Virus Department, Leibniz Institute DSMZ - German Collection of Microorganisms and Cell Cultures GmbH, Braunschweig, Germany
Krenz, B; Plant Virus Department, Leibniz Institute DSMZ - German Collection of Microorganisms and Cell Cultures GmbH, Braunschweig, Germany
Maclot, F; INRAE & UMR 1332 Biologie du Fruit et Pathologie, University of Bordeaux, Villenave d'Ornon Cedex, France
Malandraki, I; Laboratory of Virology, Benaki Phytopathological Institute, Kifissia, Greece
Maliogka, V I; Plant Pathology Laboratory, School of Agriculture, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece
Margaria, P; Plant Virus Department, Leibniz Institute DSMZ - German Collection of Microorganisms and Cell Cultures GmbH, Braunschweig, Germany
Massart, Sébastien ; Université de Liège - ULiège > TERRA Research Centre > Entomologie, Phytopathologie et Productions Innovantes (EPPI)
Meekes, E T M; Netherlands Inspection Service for Horticulture (Naktuinbouw), Roelofarendsveen, The Netherlands
Menzel, W; Plant Virus Department, Leibniz Institute DSMZ - German Collection of Microorganisms and Cell Cultures GmbH, Braunschweig, Germany
Oplaat, C; Invasive Plants and Plant Health, Netherlands Institute for Vectors, National Plant Protection Organization, Netherlands Food and Product Safety Authority (NVWA), Wageningen, The Netherlands
Orfanidou, C G; Plant Pathology Laboratory, School of Agriculture, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece
Ramos-González, P L; Applied Molecular Biology Laboratory, Instituto Biológico de São Paulo, Av. Conselheiro Rodrigues Alves, São Paulo, Brazil
Roenhorst, J W; Invasive Plants and Plant Health, Netherlands Institute for Vectors, National Plant Protection Organization, Netherlands Food and Product Safety Authority (NVWA), Wageningen, The Netherlands
Ros, V I D; Wageningen University and Research, Wageningen, The Netherlands
Seal, S E; Natural Resources Institute, University of Greenwich, Central Avenue, Chatham Maritime, Kent, UK
Silva, G; Natural Resources Institute, University of Greenwich, Central Avenue, Chatham Maritime, Kent, UK
Silva Dos Santos, G; Applied Molecular Biology Laboratory, Instituto Biológico de São Paulo, Av. Conselheiro Rodrigues Alves, São Paulo, Brazil
Tzanetakis, I E; Department of Entomology and Plant Pathology, University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture, Fayetteville, 72703, USA
van der Vlugt, R A A; Wageningen University and Research, Wageningen, The Netherlands
van Gemert, J; Invasive Plants and Plant Health, Netherlands Institute for Vectors, National Plant Protection Organization, Netherlands Food and Product Safety Authority (NVWA), Wageningen, The Netherlands
Varveri, C; Laboratory of Virology, Benaki Phytopathological Institute, Kifissia, Greece
Verbeek, M; Wageningen University and Research, Wageningen, The Netherlands
Winter, S; Plant Virus Department, Leibniz Institute DSMZ - German Collection of Microorganisms and Cell Cultures GmbH, Braunschweig, Germany
Giesbers, A K J; Invasive Plants and Plant Health, Netherlands Institute for Vectors, National Plant Protection Organization, Netherlands Food and Product Safety Authority (NVWA), Wageningen, The Netherlands
