The Mycovirome in a Worldwide Collection of the Brown Rot Fungus .

The fungus is responsible for brown rot on stone and pome fruit and causes heavy yield losses both pre- and post-harvest. Several mycoviruses are known to infect fungal plant pathogens. In this study, a metagenomic approach was applied to obtain a comprehensive characterization of the mycovirome in a worldwide collection of 58 strains. Deep sequencing of double-stranded (ds)RNA extracts revealed a great abundance and variety of mycoviruses. A total of 32 phylogenetically distinct positive-sense (+) single-stranded (ss)RNA viruses were identified. They included twelve mitoviruses, one in the proposed family , and twelve botourmiaviruses (phylum ), eleven of which were novel viral species; two hypoviruses, three in the proposed family , and one barnavirus (phylum ); as well as one novel beny-like virus (phylum ), the first one identified in Ascomycetes. A partial sequence of a new putative ssDNA mycovirus related to viruses within the family was detected in a isolate from Serbia. The availability of genomic sequences of mycoviruses will serve as a solid basis for further research aimed at deepening the knowledge on virus-host and virus-virus interactions and to explore their potential as biocontrol agents against brown rot disease.