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ARS Home » Southeast Area » Griffin, Georgia » Plant Genetic Resources Conservation Unit » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #217072
Title: The occurrence and control of pepper mild mottle virus(PMMoV)in the USDA/ARS Capsicum germplasm collection

Author
item Jarret, Robert - Bob
item Gillaspie, Athey - Graves
item Anglin, Noelle
item Pinnow, David

Submitted to: Seed Technology Journal
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 2/26/2008
Publication Date: 4/1/2008
Citation: Jarret, R.L., Gillaspie Jr, A.G., Barkley, N.L., Pinnow, D.L. 2008. The occurrence and control of pepper mild mottle virus(PMMoV)in the USDA/ARS Capsicum germplasm collection. Seed Technology Journal. 30:26-36.

Interpretive Summary: The USDA/ARS maintains a collection of pepper (Capsicum spp.) seed in Griffin, GA. Samples of the seed of the materials in this collection were tested for the presence of Pepper Mild Mottle Virus(PMMoV) a seed-borne virus common to this crop species. Of the 4,403 seed samples tested, approximately 30% were found to be infected with PMMoV. Infected seed were treated with trisodium phosphate (TSP) – a compound shown previously to be effective in reducing virus content in infected seed. Results indicated that the treatment of infected seed with 10% TSP for 3 hours significantly reduced, but did not always eliminate PMMoV from the infected seed.

Technical Abstract: Four-thousand-four-hundred and three seed inventories of Capsicum spp. obtained from the USDA/ARS Capsicum germplasm collection were tested for the presence of Pepper Mild Mottle Virus (PMMoV). Approximately 32% of these inventories tested positive for PMMoV and the virus distribution was nearly uniform across the five cultivated species of this genus. Treatment of PMMoV- infected Capsicum seed with 10% trisodium phosphate (TSP) for 2.5 h at room temperature reduced germination in 11/50 accessions examined and significantly increased the number of abnormal seedlings. Indicator plant [Chenopodium giganteum G. Don. – formerly C. amaranticolor (Coste & A. Reyn.) Coste & Reyn] analysis revealed that treatment of PMMoV-infected Capsicum seed with 10% TSP for 2.5 h reduced virus infectivity, but did not eliminate it. Treatment of 10% TSP for 24 h eliminated PMMoV from four of six tested accessions. Short-term treatment of PMMoV-infected Capsicum seed with TSP prior to planting is expected to significantly reduce the incidence of the virus, but not eliminate it in all instances.