A Comovirus Affecting Tabasco Pepper in Central America. R. A. VALVERDE, Department of Plant Pathology and Crop Physiology, Louisiana Agricultural Experiment Station, Louisiana State University Agricultural Center, Baton Rouge 70803. L. L. BLACK, and D. J. DUFRESNE, Department of Plant Pathology and Crop Physiology, Louisiana Agricultural Experiment Station, Louisiana State University Agricultural Center, Baton Rouge 70803. Plant Dis. 79:421-423. Accepted for publication 15 December 1914. Copyright 1995 The American Phytopathological Society. DOI: 10.1094/PD-79-0421.

A virus having isometric particle morphology with an average diameter of 30 nm was isolated from tabasco pepper (Capsicumfriite.itens) in Honduras. The virus was mechanically inoculated to several cultivars of C. frutescens, C. chinense, and C. annuum. Symptoms consisted of mosaic and yellow mottle in C. frutescens and C. chinense and a very mild mottle in C. annuum. The virus was purified, and an antiserum was prepared. Viral ss RNA, dsRNA, and coat protein were analyzed by gel electrophoresis Light and electron microscopy studies indicated that the virus has properties similar to members of the comovirus group. Serological tests with several comoviruses revealed this virus is closely related to Andean potato mottle virus (APMV), and therefore, the virus was designated as a pepper strain of APMV (APMV-P). Moreover, it was distantly related to the cowpea severe mosaic and bean pod mottle viruses. The banded cucumber beetle (Diabrotica balleata) was determined to be a vector of APMV-P