ICTV Virus Taxonomy Profile: Potyviridae

Abstract

The Potyviridae is the largest family of RNA plant viruses, members of which have single-stranded, positive-sense RNA genomes and flexuous filamentous particles 680-900 nm long and 11-20 nm wide. There are eight genera, distinguished by the host range, genomic features and phylogeny of the member viruses. Genomes range from 8.2 to 11.3 kb, with an average size of 9.7 kb. Most genomes are monopartite but those of members of the genus Bymovirus are bipartite. Some members cause serious disease epidemics in cultivated plants. This is a summary of the International Committee on Taxonomy of Viruses (ICTV) Report on the taxonomy of the Potyviridae, which is available at www.ictv.global/report/potyviridae.

Fig. 1.

Genome organization of a typical member of the genus Potyvirus. Viruses of other genera may differ as described in Table 2. VPg, viral protein genome-linked; P1-Pro, protein 1 protease; HC-Pro, helper component protease; P3, protein 3; PIPO, pretty interesting Potyviridae ORF; 6K, six kilodalton peptide; CI, cytoplasmic inclusion; NIa-Pro, nuclear inclusion A protease; NIb, nuclear inclusion B RNA-dependent RNA polymerase; CP, coat protein. Cleavage sites of P1-Pro (O), HC-Pro (♦) and NIa-Pro (↓) are indicated.