A glimpse into the DNA virome of the unique “living fossil” Welwitschia mirabilis

Here, we report the identification and characterization of four novel DNA viruses associated with Welwitschia mirabilis . Complete circular virus-like sequences with affinity to Caulimoviridae members and geminiviruses were detected and characterized from Welwitschia mirabilis genomic data. The two newly Caulimoviridae -like viruses have been tentatively named as Welwitschia mirabilis virus 1 and 2 (WMV1-WMV2); whereas the two identified geminiviruses were named as Welwitschia mirabilis associated geminivirus A and B (WMaGVA-WMaGVB). Phylogenetic analysis suggests that WMV1-2 belong to a proposed genus of Caulimoviridae -infecting gymnosperms. WMaGVA-B are phylogenetically related with both mastreviruses and capulaviruses and likely represent a distinct evolutionary lineage within geminiviruses.