G. Harper et al., Integration of banana streak badnavirus into the Musa genome: Molecular and cytogenetic evidence, VIROLOGY, 255(2), 1999, pp. 207-213
Breeding and tissue culture of certain cultivars of bananas (Musa) have red
to high levels of banana streak badnavirus (BSV) infection in progeny from
symptomless parents. BSV DNA hybridized to genomic DNA of one such parent,
Obino l'Ewai, suggesting integration of Viral sequences. Sequencing of cro
nes of Obino l'Ewai genomic DNA revealed an interface between BSV and Musa
sequences and a complex BSV integrant. In situ hybridization revealed two d
ifferent BSV sequence locations in Obino l'Ewai chromosomes and a complex a
rrangement of BSV and Muse sequences was shown by probing stretched DNA fib
ers. This is the first report of integrated sequences that possibly lead to
a plant pararetrovirus episomal infection by a mechanism differing markedl
y from animal retroviral systems. (C) 1999 Academic Press.