Disease Note.

Incidence of Peanut Mottle Virus in Peanuts in South Texas. H. B. Highland, Texas Agricultural Experiment Station, Pearsall 78061. P. Sreenivasulu, and J. W. Demski. Department of Plant Pathology, Georgia Experiment Station, Experiment 30212. Plant Dis. 72:644. Accepted for publication 29 March 1988. Copyright 1988 The American Phytopathological Society. DOI: 10.1094/PD-72-0644A.

The incidence of the mild strain of peanut mottle virus (PMV) in peanut (Arachis hypogaea L.) in South Texas was recorded as <0.13% of plants surveyed in 1975 (1) and in 4% of scouted fields in 1981. This area was suggested for production of PMV-free seed (1). In 1987, a systematic survey was made in 10 fields in Frio and Atascosa counties, and 10 plant samples from each field were tested by ELISA and bioassayed using bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) cultivar Topcrop. PMV was present in all fields, and incidence varied from 1 to 32%, with a mean of 10%. Our results indicate that PMV has become endemic in South Texas and that epidemics can potentially develop. In view of this, this area should no longer be considered for production of PM V-free seed. Reference: (I) J. W. Demski et at. Peanut Sci. 2:92-93, 1975.