The C5 protein encoded by Ageratum leaf curl Sichuan virus is a virulence factor and contributes to the virus infection

Earlier reports have indicated that begomoviruses encode four proteins (AC1/C1, AC2/C2, AC3/C3, and AC4/C4 proteins) using complementary‐sense DNA as the template. In recent years, several reports have shown that some begomoviruses also encode an AC5/C5 protein from the complementary DNA strand, and these AC5/C5 proteins play different roles in virus infections. Here, we provide evidence showing that Ageratum leaf curl Sichuan virus (ALCScV), a monopartite begomovirus, also encodes a C5 protein that is important for disease symptom formation and can affect viral replication. Infection of Nicotiana benthamiana plants with a potato virus X (PVX)‐based vector carrying the ALCScV C5 gene resulted in more severe disease symptoms and higher virus accumulation levels. ALCScV C5 protein can be found in the cytoplasm and the nucleus. Furthermore, this protein is also a suppressor of posttranscriptional gene silencing. Mutational analysis showed that knockout of C5 gene expression significantly reduced ALCScV‐induced disease symptoms and virus accumulation, while expression of the C5 gene using the PVX‐based vector enhanced ALCScV accumulation in coinfected N. benthamiana plants.