Abstract

Cucumo- and tospoviruses are the most destructive viruses infecting hot pepper (chilli). A diagnostic survey was conducted to assess the prevalence of cucumo and tospoviruses in chilli growing tracts of Tamil Nadu. Infected plants showing mosaic with chlorotic and necrotic rings, veinal necrosis, mosaic mottling, leaf filiformity and malformation were collected. Molecular indexing carried out through reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) with coat protein gene specific primer of Cucumber mosaic virus (CMV) and tospovirus degenerate primer corresponding to the L segment (RdRp). Ostensibly, amplifications were observed for both CMV and tospoviruses as sole as well for mixed infections. The sequence analysis indicated that the Capsicum chlorosis virus (CaCV) and Groundnut bud necrosis virus (GBNV) to be involved with CMV in causing combined infections. The co-infection of CMV with CaCV was detected in 10.41% of the symptomatic plant samples and combined infection of CMV with GBNV was recorded in around 6.25% of the symptomatic plants surveyed. The amino acid substitution of Ser129 over conserved Pro129 in coat protein of CMV implies that CMV strain involved in mixed infection as chlorosis inducing strain. Further, the electron microscopy of symptomatic plant samples explicated the presence of isometric particles of CMV and quasi spherical particles of tospoviruses. This is the first molecular evidence for the natural co-existence of chlorosis inducing CMV strain with CaCV and GBNV on hot pepper in India.

Highlights

  • The hot pepper commonly known as chilli (Capsicum annuum L.) is the most important spice crop with significant commercial value throughout the world due to its great phenotypic, horticultural, agricultural and biological ­diversity[1]

  • The prime objective of the present study is to explore the mixed infections of Cucumber mosaic virus (CMV) with tospoviruses in chilli under natural field conditions of Tamil Nadu in India

  • CMV was detected in 23 samples (47.91%); Capsicum chlorosis virus (CaCV) was recorded in 11 samples (22.91%) and Groundnut bud necrosis virus (GBNV) in 5 samples (10.41%)

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Summary

Introduction

The hot pepper commonly known as chilli (Capsicum annuum L.) is the most important spice crop with significant commercial value throughout the world due to its great phenotypic, horticultural, agricultural and biological ­diversity[1]. Chilli is reported to be affected by more than 30 economically important viruses by causing 15–50% of yield losses in chilli ­cultivation[2,3]. It includes Cucumber mosaic v­ irus[4], Chilli leaf curl ­virus[5], Tomato spotted wilt v­ irus[6], Groundnut bud necrosis v­ irus[7], Capsicum chlorosis v­ irus[8], Tobacco mosaic v­ irus[9], Potato virus Y­ 6, Tomato leaf curl New Delhi ­virus[10] and Chilli veinal mottle ­virus[11].

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