Plant potyvirus evolution: the survey of the genetic structure of populations

The Potyvirus is the largest genus of the largest family of plant RNA viruses, the Potyviridae. The potyviruses infect not only dicotyledonous but also monocotyledonous plants. The potyvirus phylogeny shows that the genus probably originated from a virus of monocotyledonous plants and that it first diverged approximately 7250 years ago in Southwest Eurasia or North Africa. Turnip mosaic virus (TuMV) belongs to the genus Potyvirus and infects a wide range of plant species, most from the family Brassicaceae. TuMV is most studied a potyvirus species for molecular evolution and the genetic structure of populations. The use of computer programs for better understanding of the evolution and the genetic structures of populations of potyviruses and TuMV are illustrated.