Small RNA-seq to characterize viruses responsible of Lettuce big vein disease in Spain

The emerging lettuce big-vein disease (LBVD) is causing losses in lettuce production ranging from 30 to 70% worldwide. Several studies have associated this disease with Mirafiori lettuce big-vein virus (MiLBVV; genus Ophiovirus), alone or in mixed infection with Lettuce big-vein associated virus (LBVaV; genus Varicosavirus). We used Illumina small RNA sequencing (sRNA-seq) to identify viruses present in symptomatic lettuce plants from commercial fields in Southern Spain.