Tomato leaf curl New Delhi virus isolate:JC01/melon/MY/2025 Genome sequencing and assembly

The genetic diversity of Tomato leaf curl New Delhi virus in Sarawak, Malaysia remains poorly characterized. Previous studies have primarily relied on PCR-based detection methods, which may fail to detect divergent viral strains due to primer mismatch. In this study, the presence of begomovirus was initially confirmed using a broad-spectrum geminivirus primer. Whole-genome sequencing was then performed directly from infected Cucumis melo leaf tissue, without prior PCR amplification, to recover complete viral genomes.This approach allows for the unbiased recovery of both conserved and divergent ToLCNDV strains. The resulting genomic data will not only improve our understanding of the virus genetic diversity in Malaysia, but also support the development of more robust, broadly reactive primers for future PCR-based diagnostics and surveillance in Malaysia.