The complete nucleotide sequence and genome organization of lychnis mottle virus.

The complete genomic sequence of lychnis mottle virus (LycMoV) from a Lychnis cognata plant was determined. LycMoV has a bipartite genome consisting of RNA1 (7,428 nt) and RNA2 (3,734 nt). Species in the family Secoviridae are demarcated based on their amino acid similarities in the protease-polymerase and coat protein. In LycMoV, these proteins share 90% and 63% sequence similarity, respectively, with the most closely related virus, strawberry latent ringspot virus, which is a member of the family Secoviridae but has not been assigned to a genus. Therefore, LycMoV is a tentative new virus of the family Secoviridae.