Plant Protection specialist

Genetic diversity and evolutionary dynamics of viruses of the Closteroviridae family

Document Type : Review article

Author

Mahsa Abadkhah

Department of Plant Protection University of Tehran

https://doi.org/10.22059/giahpzshsj.2026.107906
Abstract
Plant viruses cause significant economic losses and pose a serious threat to sustainable agriculture. The frequent emergence of new viral diseases is largely driven by international trade, climate change, and the rapid evolutionary potential of viruses. Among plant viruses, RNA viruses exhibit a particularly high capacity for genetic diversity, rapid evolution, and adaptation due to their high mutation rates and large population sizes. Characterizing the genetic diversity of viral populations provides essential insights into the processes involved in virus evolution and epidemiology, and is crucial for designing reliable diagnostic tools and developing durable disease control strategies. Genetic bottlenecks are stochastic events that limit genetic diversity within populations, potentially leading to genetic drift and reduced adaptive potential. This review examines the genetic diversity and evolutionary dynamics of viruses belonging to the family Closteroviridae, which includes some of the most economically important plant viruses.

Keywords

Evolution
Fitness
Gene flow
Mutation
Recombination

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