Occurrence and incidence of Pepper mottle virus infecting chilli in Punjab, India

摘要

Chilli is an economically important crop throughout the world. Chillies are grown extensively in India leading to highest productivity in world. Viruses are reported as important constraints in hot pepper production, which lowers yield and result in poor fruit quality. Pepper mottle virus (PepMoV) disease was recorded on hot pepper in various district of Punjab during the year 2014–2015. Round the year survey of Punjab revealed various symptoms on hot pepper on different cultivars such as vein-banding, mosaic, puckering and mottling during early crop season (March–June). Whereas, leaf curl type symptoms started appearing from mid-season (June–July). Plants showing symptoms viz., mottling and greening of leaf veins, blistering were found to be associated with PepMoV infection. Among the surveyed districts, maximum incidence of mottle disease of hot pepper was recorded in Patiala (21%) followed by Sangrur (19%) and SAS nagar (15%). Universal primers specific to potyviruses were used to characterize the virus associated with the disease.