Molecular characterization of a novel partitivirus from quinoa (Chenopodium quinoa) in China

A novel partitivirus was detected in quinoa (Chenopodium quinoa) plants growing in China. The complete genome sequence of quinoa cryptic virus (QCV) was determined using a combination of next-generation sequencing, RT-PCR, and RACE. Phylogenetic analysis based on amino acid (aa) sequences of the RdRP revealed that QCV belongs to the genus Deltapartitivirus within the family Partitiviridae. The aa sequence identity values obtained when comparing RdRP and CP of QCV with those of the most closely related virus, pistacia cryptic virus, were significantly below the threshold for species demarcation within the genus (≤ 90% aa sequence identity for RdRP and ≤ 80% for CP), suggesting that QCV represents a new species.