Papaya ringspot virus (PRSV) is a devastating pathogen found throughout the tropics and subtropics. Understanding PRSV diversity and evolution is crucial for formulating timely management strategies and breeding resistant cultivars. The molecular epidemiology of PRSV-P was investigated by analyzing the nucleotide sequences of the coat protein gene of different PRSV isolates worldwide, including the sequence data generated by collecting infected samples from South Florida. PRSV samples were collected from different papaya growing regions in Homestead and the wild papaya plantations surrounding Lake Okeechobee. Distinct PRSV clades were identified, corresponding to the U.S. and South American region, Southeast Asia (excluding India), and specifically India. The sequences obtained in the present study showed a close correlation with the aligned with the sequences from Cuba, Mexico, Jamaica, Guatemala, Venezuela, and previous sequences of the Florida isolates. The estimates of PRSV diversity showed an increase in the viral diversity, as the majority of the papaya growing regions are forming a separate clade. However, the evolution is slow, which could be due to the implementation of control strategies and the cultivation of resistant transgenic papayas.
