Disease Note.

Tomato Spotted Wilt Virus on Field-Grown Peppers in the Midwest. R. X. Latin, Department of Botany and Plant Pathology, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN 47907. G. E. Ruhl, and S. T. Nameth. Department of Botany and Plant Pathology, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN 47907, and Department of Plant Pathology, Ohio State University, Columbus 43210. Plant Dis. 74:183. Accepted for publication 13 October 1989. Copyright 1990 The American Phytopathological Society. DOI: 10.1094/PD-74-0183B.

Symptoms indicative of tomato spotted wilt virus (TSWV) infections were observed in the Midwest for the first time in fields of peppers (Capsicum annuum L.), including the cultivars Sweet Banana, Sweet Cherry, and Lady Bell. The fields of banana and cherry peppers represented approximately 50 ha and were surveyed twice. No thrips were observed on sampled plants at either time. Less than 5% of the plants showed symptoms on 13 July. Disease incidence did not differ on 9 August, but symptoms on infected plants were more severe. Affected plants were stunted, young foliage was distorted, and leaves showed the characteristic ring pattern associated with TSWV on various other host plants. The presence of TSWV in the stunted pepper plants was determined serologically by direct enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. All samples were tested in duplicate. Inoculations of Nicotiana bethamiana L. leaves with sap extracted from symptomatic peppers produced symptoms diagnostic for TSWV within 1 wk after inoculation. This is the first report of TSWV in a pepper crop in the midwestern United States.