Plant Viral Pathogens: Innovations in Detection, Genetic Diversity, and Evolutionary Dynamics

A special issue of Viruses (ISSN 1999-4915). This special issue belongs to the section "Viruses of Plants, Fungi and Protozoa".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 April 2026 | Viewed by 637

Special Issue Editor


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Guest Editor
Department of Biological Science, The University of Tulsa, Tulsa, OK, USA
Interests: emerging and re-emerging virus diseases; genetic diversity; mutations; recombination; reassortment; bottlenecks
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Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Viruses are extraordinary biological entities capable of infecting all forms of life, including other viruses. Among them, plant-infecting viruses continue to pose a significant threat to global agriculture, causing devastating losses in crop productivity and quality. While direct control options for plant viruses are limited, effective management relies heavily on accurate diagnosis and an in-depth understanding of virus evolution.

This Special Issue will highlight recent advances in the diagnosis and evolutionary biology of plant viruses. Rapid, sensitive, and reliable diagnostic tools are essential in early detection and surveillance, forming the foundation of any effective disease management strategy. At the same time, the evolutionary dynamics of plant viruses, driven by various factors such as host resistance pressure, vector interactions, and environmental change continue to facilitate the emergence of new viral strains, complicating control efforts.

We invite contributions that explore innovative diagnostic techniques, molecular and evolutionary mechanisms of virus adaptation, and the factors contributing to viral emergence and spread in economically important crops. Manuscripts focusing on integrated strategies that link diagnostics and evolutionary insights to practical, long-term management solutions are particularly encouraged. This Special Issue will advance our understanding of plant virus evolution and guide future research into sustainable crop protection.

Prof. Dr. Akhtar Ali
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

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Keywords

  • high-throughput sequencing
  • RT-PCR and qRT-PCR
  • genetic diversity
  • virus evolution
  • mutations
  • reassortment
  • recombination

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Published Papers (1 paper)

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Research

17 pages, 2037 KB  
Article
First Detection and Identification of Southern Tomato Virus Infecting Tomatoes in Oklahoma with Complete Genome Characterization and Insights into Global Genetic Diversity
by Salil Jindal and Akhtar Ali
Viruses 2025, 17(9), 1193; https://doi.org/10.3390/v17091193 - 30 Aug 2025
Viewed by 511
Abstract
Southern tomato virus (STV) or Amalgavirus lycopersici is a persistent virus impacting tomato crops globally. This study identified new STV isolates from Oklahoma and analyzed their evolutionary relationship to global STV isolates. Phylogenetic analyses (complete genomes or individual genes) grouped STV isolates into [...] Read more.
Southern tomato virus (STV) or Amalgavirus lycopersici is a persistent virus impacting tomato crops globally. This study identified new STV isolates from Oklahoma and analyzed their evolutionary relationship to global STV isolates. Phylogenetic analyses (complete genomes or individual genes) grouped STV isolates into two distinct clades, independent of geographic origin or host. Notably, Oklahoma isolates formed a separate cluster from previously reported isolates in the United States of America (USA). Coalescent analysis suggested the most recent common ancestor of STV fusion protein emerged around 135 years ago. Genetic diversity among STV isolates was low, with slightly more variability in the RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRp) gene than the p42 gene. Both genes showed strong purifying selection. No recombination events were detected across complete genomes. Structure analysis revealed that the p42 protein, particularly its C-terminal region, displayed higher disorder, indicating a possible role in host interactions and viral adaptability. These findings deepen our understanding of STV’s evolution and highlight the need for ongoing surveillance and broader genomic sampling. Full article
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