In this review, encouraged by the dictum of Theodosius Dobzhansky that "Nothing in biology makes sense except in the light of evolution", we outline the likely evolutionary pathways that have resulted in the observed similarities and differences of the extant molecules, biology, distribution, etc. of the potyvirids and, especially, its largest genus, the potyviruses. The potyvirids are a family of plant-infecting RNA-genome viruses. They had a single polyphyletic origin, and all share at least three of their genes (i.e., the helicase region of their CI protein, the RdRp region of their NIb protein and their coat protein) with other viruses which are otherwise unrelated. Potyvirids fall into 11 genera of which the potyviruses, the largest, include more than 150 distinct viruses found worldwide. The first potyvirus probably originated 15,000-30,000 years ago, in a Eurasian grass host, by acquiring crucial changes to its coat protein and HC-Pro protein, which enabled it to be transmitted by migrating host-seeking aphids. All potyviruses are aphid-borne and, in nature, infect discreet sets of monocotyledonous or eudicotyledonous angiosperms. All potyvirus genomes are under negative selection; the HC-Pro, CP, Nia, and NIb genes are most strongly selected, and the PIPO gene least, but there are overriding virus specific differences; for example, all turnip mosaic virus genes are more strongly conserved than those of potato virus Y. Estimates of dN/dS (ω) indicate whether potyvirus populations have been evolving as one or more subpopulations and could be used to help define species boundaries. Recombinants are common in many potyvirus populations (20%-64% in five examined), but recombination seems to be an uncommon speciation mechanism as, of 149 distinct potyviruses, only two were clear recombinants. Human activities, especially trade and farming, have fostered and spread both potyviruses and their aphid vectors throughout the world, especially over the past five centuries. The world distribution of potyviruses, especially those found on islands, indicates that potyviruses may be more frequently or effectively transmitted by seed than experimental tests suggest. Only two meta-genomic potyviruses have been recorded from animal samples, and both are probably contaminants.

中文翻译：

---

马铃薯病毒属：进化合成正在出现。

在这篇评论中，受到狄奥多西·多布赞斯基（Theodosius Dobzhansky）的格言“除了进化论之外，生物学中没有任何东西有意义”的鼓励，我们概述了可能的进化途径，这些途径导致了现存分子、生物学、分布、马铃薯Y病毒属，尤其是其最大属马铃薯病毒属的病毒等。马铃薯Yvirids是感染植物的RNA基因组病毒家族。它们具有单一的多系起源，并且都与其他不相关的病毒共享至少三个基因（即它们的CI蛋白的解旋酶区域、它们的NIb蛋白的RdRp区域和它们的外壳蛋白）。马铃薯Y病毒属分为11个属，其中最大的马铃薯Y病毒属，包括全世界发现的150多种不同的病毒。第一个马铃薯Y病毒可能起源于15,000-30,000年前的欧亚草宿主中，其外壳蛋白和HC-Pro蛋白发生了重大变化，这使其能够通过迁移的寻找宿主的蚜虫进行传播。所有马铃薯Y病毒属蚜虫传播，并且在自然界中感染单子叶或真双子叶被子植物的离散组。所有马铃薯Y病毒组基因组均处于负选择之下；HC-Pro、CP、Nia 和 NIb 基因的选择最强，PIPO 基因的选择最弱，但存在压倒性的病毒特异性差异；例如，所有萝卜花叶病毒基因都比马铃薯 Y 病毒的基因更加保守。dN/dS (ω) 的估计值表明马铃薯病毒种群是否已进化为一个或多个亚种群，并可用于帮助定义物种边界。重组在许多马铃薯Y病毒种群中很常见（在所检查的5个病毒种群中重组为20%-64%），但重组似乎是一种不常见的物种形成机制，因为在149种不同的马铃薯Y病毒中，只有两种是明确的重组体。人类活动，特别是贸易和农业活动，在全世界培育和传播了马铃薯病毒及其蚜虫媒介，特别是在过去的五个世纪里。马铃薯病毒的世界分布，尤其是在岛屿上发现的病毒，表明马铃薯病毒通过种子传播的频率可能比实验测试显示的要高或有效。从动物样本中仅记录到两种宏基因组马铃薯病毒，并且两者都可能是污染物。