Disease Note

Serological Detection of Pepper Mottle Virus in California Pepper Fields. O. A. Abdalla, Department of Plant Pathology, University of California, Riverside 92521. P. R. Desjardins, and J. A. Dodds, Department of Plant Pathology, University of California, Riverside 92521. Plant Dis. 70:173. Accepted for publication 19 July 1985. Copyright 1986 The American Phytopathological Society. DOI: 10.1094/PD-70-173b.

Virus diseases cause serious losses and limit pepper production in California. Although pepper mottle virus (PeMV) is considered to be very important in some states, none of the surveys for pepper viruses carried out in California in the past have reported it among the several viruses found. In 1984, pepper fields in San Joaquin, Tulare, and Imperial counties were surveyed to see if PeMV was present and, if so, to determine its frequency of occurrence. [Erratum from May, 1986: In 1984, pepper fields in Ventura, Tulare, and Imperial counties were surveyed to see if PeMV was present and, if so, to determine its frequency of occurrence.] Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was used to detect and identify PeMV in samples collected from these counties. The virus was found in all three counties, with an average frequency of detection of 51%. Although other potyviruses cross-react serologically with antiserum to PeMV, the latter could be differentiated by ELISA. This is the first report from California confirming the presence of PeMV in the state.