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  • The EMBO Journal (2003) 22, 4836 - 4845
  • doi:10.1093/emboj/cdg443

Induction of infectious petunia vein clearing (pararetro) virus from endogenous provirus in petunia

Katja R. Richert-Pöggeler1, Faiza Noreen1, Trude Schwarzacher2, Glyn Harper3 and Thomas Hohn4

  1. Friedrich Miescher Institute, PO Box 2543, CH-4002 Basel, Switzerland
  2. University of Leicester, Leicester LE1 7RH, UK
  3. John Innes Centre, Colney Lane, Norwich NR4 7UH, UK
  4. Present address: University of Basel, Botanical Institute, Plant Health Unit, Schönbeinstrasse 6, CH-4056, Basel, Switzerland

Correspondence to:

Katja R. Richert-Pöggeler, E-mail: richert@fmi.ch

Received 4 April 2003; Accepted 21 July 2003; Revised 18 July 2003

Infection by an endogenous pararetrovirus using forms of both episomal and chromosomal origin has been demonstrated and characterized, together with evidence that petunia vein clearing virus (PVCV) is a constituent of the Petunia hybrida genome. Our findings allow comparative and direct analysis of horizontally and vertically transmitted virus forms and demonstrate their infectivity using biolistic transformation of a provirus-free petunia species. Some integrants within the genome of P.hybrida are arranged in tandem, allowing direct release of virus by transcription. In addition to known inducers of endogenous pararetroviruses, such as genome hybridization, tissue culture and abiotic stresses, we observed activation of PVCV after wounding. Our data also support the hypothesis that the host plant uses DNA methylation to control the endogenous pararetrovirus.

  • Keywords:

    • Caulimoviridae,
    • integration,
    • petunia,
    • petunia vein clearing virus,
    • tandem array