Meta-transcriptome-based molecular characterization of a novel fijivirus detected in a Sogatella furcifera population from Myanmar

Abstract A novel fijivirus, tentatively named “Sogatella furcifera reovirus” (SFRV), was detected in a Sogatella furcifera population collected from Yangon in Myanmar. The SFRV genome comprises 10 dsRNA segments encoding 11 putative proteins. The 11 ORFs and their encoded proteins has 49.1%-71.0% nucleotide and 30.5%-76.3% amino acid sequence identities with reference fijiviruses. SFRV is closest to Nilaparvata lugens reovirus in the phylogenetic tree based on the RdRP. Fijivirus-specific motifs were identified in the SFRV genome. Thus, according to the described species demarcation criteria, SFRV belongs to a new virus in the genus Fijivirus, family Reoviridae.