Exploring RNA viral diversity in macrophytes from freshwater springs

It is likely that viruses play important roles in the health and ecology of macrophytes, an important taxonomically diverse group of aquatic phototrophs that are visible to the naked eye. Macrophytes, together with phytoplankton, are the principal primary producers in aquatic ecosystems where they fulfill numerous ecosystem functions. This diverse group includes phototrophs spanning from cyanobacterial mats (Cyanophyta) to seven divisions within Archaeplastida, including macroalgae (Charophyceae, Chlorophyta, Rhodophyta, and Xanthophyta), non-vascular plants (Bryophyta) and vascular plants (Pteridophyta and Spermatophyta). Although viruses impact population dynamics of single-celled phototrophs in aquatic systems, there is scarce information regarding viral infection in macrophytes. Here we identified RNA viruses associated with macrophytes inhabiting four springs in Florida, USA providing one of the first glimpses of viral diversity associated with these essential freshwater phototrophs.

病毒极有可能在大型水生植物（macrophytes）的健康与生态过程中发挥关键作用；这类生物是分类学上极具多样性的水生光合生物类群，且可通过肉眼直接观察。大型水生植物与浮游植物共同构成水生生态系统中的核心初级生产者，执行诸多生态系统功能。这一多样类群涵盖的光合生物范围极广，从蓝藻垫（蓝藻门Cyanophyta）到古质体类（Archaeplastida）下的7个门，其中包括大型藻类（轮藻纲Charophyceae、绿藻门Chlorophyta、红藻门Rhodophyta及黄藻门Xanthophyta）、非维管植物（苔藓植物门Bryophyta）以及维管植物（蕨类植物门Pteridophyta和种子植物门Spermatophyta）。尽管病毒会影响水生系统中单细胞光合生物的种群动态，但目前针对大型水生植物病毒感染的相关研究信息仍较为匮乏。本研究鉴定出与美国佛罗里达州四处泉眼栖息的大型水生植物相关的RNA病毒，为揭示这类重要淡水光合生物的病毒多样性提供了首批研究视角之一。