Phyllocoptes parviflori is a distinct species and a vector of the pervasive blackberry leaf mottle associated virus

• Published in: Infection, genetics and evolution genetics and evolution, 2024-01, Vol.117, p.105538-105538, Article 105538
• Main Authors: Druciarek, Tobiasz, Sierra-Mejia, Andrea, Zagrodzki, Stanislaw K., Singh, Shivani, Ho, Thien, Lewandowski, Mariusz, Tzanetakis, Ioannis E.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Blackberry leaf mottle associated virus; Eriophyid; Transmission
• ISSN: 1567-1348; 1567-7257
• DOI: 10.1016/j.meegid.2023.105538

Several viruses are transmitted by eriophyid mites (Acariformes: Eriophyoidea) including blackberry leaf mottle-associated emaravirus (BLMaV) (Emaravirus rubi). BLMaV is transmitted by an unidentified eriophyid species and is involved in blackberry yellow vein, a devastating disease in the southeastern United States. In this study, we assessed the eriophyid mite Phylocoptes parviflori as a vector of BLMaV and clarified its taxonomic status as it was previously synonymized with Phyllocoptes gracilis. P. parviflori can efficiently transmit BLMaV. The virus was found to cause yellow vein disease symptoms on ‘Ouachita’ blackberry marking a paradigm shift as disease symptoms have always been associated with multiple virus infections. Therefore, we propose renaming the virus to blackberry leaf mottle virus. The occurrence of P. parviflori on wild and cultivated blackberries, as well as its ability to colonize other Rubus species, enhances its importance as a major contributor to the spread of yellow vein disease. •Resynonymisation of Phyllocoptes parviflori from Phyllocoptes gracilis•Phyllocoptes parviflori is a vector of blackberry leaf mottle-associated emaravirus (BLMaV).•A single P. parviflori can spread BLMaV.•BLMaV cause symptoms of blackberry yellow vein disease in single infections in ‘Ouachita’ blackberry•Proposition to rename BLMaV for blackberry leaf mottle virus (BLMV).