VIEW ARTICLE

Morphology, Host Range, and Serological Relationships of Pepper Mottle Virus. D. E. Purcifull, Department of Plant Pathology, University of Florida, Gainesville 32611; T. A. Zitter(2), and Ernest Hiebert(3). (2)Agricultural Research and Education Center, University of Florida, P.O. Drawer A. Belle Glade 33430; (3)Department of Plant Pathology, University of Florida, Gainesville 32611. Phytopathology 65:559-562. Accepted for publication 5 December 1974. DOI: 10.1094/Phyto-65-559.

Filamentous particles with a predominant length of about 737 nm were found in extracts from plants infected with a Florida isolate of pepper mottle virus (PeMV). PeMV induced symptoms in six species of the family Solanaceae, but not in three other solanaceous species or in 19 species representing 10 other families. On the bases of immunodiffusion tests with antisera to PeMV, this virus is distinct from, but related to, three potato Y group viruses which infect pepper: pepper veinal mottle, potato Y, and tobacco etch viruses. Evidence was obtained that PeMV is serologically identical to a pepper virus from Arizona previously reported by Nelson and Wheeler, and also that the lamellar inclusions (pinwheels and related structures) induced by these two viruses are serologically identical. The morphological and serological properties of PeMV provide further evidence that it is a member of the PVY group.