Identification of jasmine virus H infecting Ixora coccinea by nanopore metatranscriptomics

Ixora coccinea, commonly known as jungle geranium, is now cultivated tropical or subtropical countries. In addition, it is used as medicinal plant for skin disease, dysentery, ulcers, and gonorrhea. With the increasing demand, the import and cultivation of I. coccinea has been increasing annually in South Korea, and they are mostly propagated by cuttings. Although several studies reported the natural infection of fungal pathogens, on I. coccinea, no viral pathogens were reported yet worldwide. The purpose of this is study is to investigate RNA viruses infected from Ixora coccinea in korea through oxford-nanopore sequencing technology and to develop a technology that can diagnose viruses that damage plants more specifically and sensitively than existing technologies.

龙船花（Ixora coccinea），俗称丛林仙丹花（jungle geranium），目前在热带及亚热带国家广泛栽培。此外，该植物可作为药用植物，用于治疗皮肤病、痢疾、溃疡及淋病。随着市场需求持续增长，韩国境内龙船花的进口与种植规模逐年扩大，其繁殖方式多以扦插为主。尽管已有多项研究报道了真菌病原体对龙船花的自然侵染现象，但目前全球范围内尚未见其感染病毒病原体的相关报道。本研究旨在通过牛津纳米孔测序（Oxford Nanopore Sequencing）技术，对韩国境内的龙船花样本开展RNA病毒侵染情况调查，并开发出相较现有技术特异性更强、灵敏度更高的植物病毒诊断技术。