Nucleotide sequence and genome organization of tomato leaf curl geminivirus

The genome of tomato leaf curl virus (TLCV) from Australia was cloned and its complete nucleotide sequence determined. It is a single circular ssDNA of 2766 nucleotides containing the consensus nonanucleotide sequence present in all geminiviruses. It has six open reading frames with an organization resembling that of certain other dicotyledonous plant-infecting monopartite geminiviruses, i.e. tomato yellow leaf curl and beet curly top viruses. The regulatory sequences present indicate a bidirectional mode of transcription. A dimeric TLCV DNA clone was constructed in a binary vector and used to agroinoculate three different host species. Typical virus infections were produced, confirming that the single DNA component is sufficient for infectivity.