Role of Betasatellite in the Pathogenesis of a Bipartite Begomovirus Affecting Tomato in India

Betasatellites are commonly associated with tomato leaf curl disease caused by begomoviruses in India. This study demonstrates the role of a betasatellite in the pathogenesis of tomato leaf curl New Delhi virus (ToLCNDV), a bipartite begomovirus affecting tomato in India. For infection, accumulation, systemic movement and disease induction by ToLCNDV, co-infection by the associated betasatellite was not essential, as the DNA A alone of ToLCNDV could infect tomato and Nicotiana benthamiana and induce mild symptoms, but DNA B or Cotton leaf curl Multan betasatellite (CLCuMB) was required for development of typical leaf curl symptoms. The symptoms were most severe in plants infected with all three components, indicating a role of the betasatellite in the pathogenesis of ToLCNDV. The plants infected with ToLCNDV DNA A alone had limited accumulation of viral DNA, which increased by many times in plants co-infected with DNA B or/and betasatellite. However, the plants infected with all three components accumulated 20 times less betasatellite DNA than the plants infected with DNA A and betasatellite. The increase in the amount of viral DNAs was also reflected in the commensurate increase in symptom severity and transmissibility by whitefly, Bemisia tabaci.