Role of alphasatellite in begomoviral disease complex

A circular single stranded satellite,called as alphasatellite (initially identified as dna-1),was characterised and confirmed to be associated with the geminivirus begomovirus-betasatellite complexes. alphasatellites are single stranded dna (ssdna) components,frequently accompanying with monopartite begomovirus or some time w ith bipartite begomovirus and/or betasatellite complex. the genome of alphasatellite dnas are nearly half size of its helper virus genome and have no similarity with it. furthermore,their function in begomovirus-betasatellite complex is still unclear. recent advances in application of molecular tools helped in finding new viruses and allied satellite components that further help in advancing our understanding o f this satellite dna and this evolution.