First nucleotide sequence of a Carlavirus virus genus infecting caper

A carlavirus from asymptomatic caper plants (Capparis spinosa L.), that was provisionally considered a distinct isolate of the previously described Caper latent virus, was partially sequenced. The translated amino acid sequences of the RNA dependent RNA polymerase (RdRp) gene and coat protein (CP) gene were compared with the equivalent sequences of members of the genus Carlavirus. The isolate, named CapLV-L7, showed less than 78% and 72% amino acid identity in RdRp and CP regions, respectively, with the other carlaviruses tested. The closest sequence similarity was with Nerine latent virus and Potato virus M. The phylogenic trees showed a close relationship of CapLV-L7 with Nerine latent virus in both genes.