Some biological and molecular properties of pepper veinal mottle virus isolates occurring in Tunisia

摘要

The potyviruses, PVY (potato virus Y) and PVMV (pepper veinal mottle virus) were identified by serological and symptom diagnosis in pepper (Capsicum annuum L.) in Tunisia during 1995-1997. Both were known to be major constraints to pepper production in North Africa. Pepper veinal mottle virus (PVMV) has not been reported previously in North Africa, but PVMV was found to be widely spread in peppers throughout Tunisia. By using reverse transcription followed by polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), we have now amplified the PVMV coat protein gene of two Tunisian isolates. DNA polymorphism, determined by restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) of the coat protein gene, revealed two patterns distinguishing PVMV from PVY. Within PVMV isolates, molecular and biological properties showed no polymorphism suggesting that all isolates are representative of one PVMV strain occurring in Tunisia.