P-177 - Cotton-associated virome in Mississippi

Upland cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L) is the major and most widely planted species of cotton worldwide and one of the most important crops cultivated in Mississippi (MS). Unlike the other major crops produced in the United States, virus-associated problems were not traditionally of major research interest for upland cotton industry. The situation dramatically changed a few years ago following the initial report of cotton leafroll dwarf virus (CLRDV, genus Polerovirus, family Solemoviridae) in Alabama and then in all cotton-producing states in the U.S., including MS. This discovery prompted interest for characterization of CLRDV and investigations into the presence of additional viruses associated with cotton in MS. Here we report data from our investigations of the cotton-associated virome based on computer-based analyses of high-throughput sequencing (HTS) data generated on an Illumina platform applying 2x150 pair-end methodology using purified and ribo-depleted total RNAs as a template. In addition to CLRDV, which was the most frequently detected virus in this study, several additional virus-derived sequences were identified among analyzed contigs assembled from ~50 cotton samples. Besides the discovery of a few phytopathogenic viruses, we detected several additional viruses whose real nature/primary host(s) is yet to be completely understood (i.e. possible myco- or insect viruses). However, none of the viruses detected in our study, with the exception of CLRDV, were determined to be widespread in the MS cotton production system.