P-479 - A Novel Virus of the Proposed New Genus Rimosavirus (Tombusviridae) Identified in Diervilla lonicera Exhibiting Interveinal Chlorosis

            Diervilla lonicera, or northern bush honeysuckle, plants displaying interveinal chlorosis were observed on the University of Minnesota campus in Saint Paul, Minnesota. In 2024, symptomatic leaves were collected and total RNA was extracted for high-throughput sequencing utilizing Illumina NovaSeqX. Raw reads were trimmed and assembled utilizing rnaSPAdes and viral contigs were identified utilizing BlastX. A novel tombus-like virus, tentatively named Diervilla tombus-like virus 1(DTV1), was identified with 66.97% amino acid identity to the coat protein of Nanning Tombu tick virus 1, a member of the Rimosaviruses, a proposed new genus within the Tombusviridae found in plants, fungi, and insects. The complete genome sequence of DTV1 was determined by 3/5' RACE and Sanger technology. DTV1 shares rimosavirus features, including a long 5’ untranslated region of 567 nt, 6 non-coding AUG triplets upstream of the first open reading frame (ORF1), and two proteins predicted to be expressed via ribosomal read-through (ORFs 2 and 5). Given the wide range of hosts reported for rimosaviruses, further investigation into whether the host of DTV1 is D. lonicera or a fungal endophyte is being conducted, and the results will be presented. DTV1 is a novel member of a recently proposed genus within the Tombusviridae with unique molecular and genetic characteristics. Additionally, D. lonicera is a common horticultural crop, and its associated viruses should be monitored.