Selected wild Dahlia species in their natural habitats from west‐central Mexico were tested for the presence of three caulimoviruses known to be associated with cultivated dahlia (Dahlia variabilis), viz. Dahlia mosaic virus (DMV), DMV‐D10 and Dahlia common mosaic virus. Virus species‐specific primers and PCR were used followed by cloning and sequencing of the amplicons. Results showed that the wild dahlia species in their natural habitat contained DMV‐D10, which is an endogenous plant pararetrovirus. Viral sequences were found in 91% of the samples (n = 56) representing four different wild species. The gene coding for the movement protein of DMV‐D10 from Dahlia coccinea and all other species was cloned and sequenced. Sequence comparisons showed divergence of this gene when compared to that of DMV‐D10 from cultivated dahlias. The discovery of plant pararetroviruses in wild dahlia species in their natural habitats suggests a possible emergence, co‐existence and co‐evolution of pararetroviruses and their host plants.

The genome structure and organization of endogenous caulimovirus sequences from dahlia (Dahlia spp), dahlia mosaic virus (DMV)-D10 from three wild species, D. coccinea (D10-DC), D. sherffii (D10-DS) and D. tenuicaulis (D10-DT), were determined and compared to those from cultivated species of dahlia, D. variabilis (DvEPRS). The complete ca. 7-kb dsDNA genomes of D10-DC, D10-DS, and D10-DT had a structure and organization typical of a caulimovirus and shared 89.3 to 96.6% amino acid sequence identity in various open reading frames (ORF) when compared to DvEPRS. The absence of the aphid transmission factor and the truncated coat protein fused with the reverse transcriptase ORF were common among these DMV-D10 isolates from wild Dahlia species.

Dahlia mosaic is a serious disease affecting dahlias. In addition to the Dahlia mosaic virus (DMV) reported previously, we characterized two putative new caulimoviruses, tentatively designated as DMV-D10 and Dahlia common mosaic virus (DCMV), from dahlia. To better understand their relative incidence in dahlia, a total of 213 samples were collected during 2007 and 2008 from several varieties of cultivated dahlia (D. variabilis) in the United States. Samples were tested for the three caulimoviruses using virus-specific primers in a polymerase chain reaction. Amplicons were cloned and sequenced to confirm the infection of dahlia with these viruses. Results showed that DMV-D10 was the most prevalent (94%) followed by DCMV (48.5%) and DMV (23%). Mixed infections were common and viruses were detected irrespective of symptom expression at the time of sampling. Two percent of the samples were not infected by any of the three tested caulimoviruses. Results suggest that caulimovirus infections are widespread in dahlia and highlight the need for testing and production of virus-free material to reduce their spread.