Status, Symptomatology and Partial Characterization of Virus Causing Ring Spot Disease in Bell Pepper (Capsicum Annum L.) in Himachal Pradesh

Abstract

Surveys were conducted to determine the occurrence and distribution of tospovirus affecting bell pepper in Solan district of Himachal Pradesh during 2009 and 2010.Bell pepper crop was more affected especially in Kandaghat (65%), Pandah (65%), Naganji (60%), and Kumarhatti (35%).Infected bell pepper samples were collected from different localities in Solan district of Himachal Pradesh.The symptoms observed under field conditions include plant stunting, rosetted leaves and ringspots. On leaves, concentric rings were observed. The bell pepper fruits produced on infected plants were misshapen with browning and showing nail head symptoms.Based on the reaction on certain indicator plants belonging to familiesAmaranthaceae, Asteraceae, Chenopodiaceae, Cucurbitaceae, Compositae, Malvaceae and Solanaceae as well as serological relationship, isolates from Pandha and Naganji vegetable farm were identified to be a tospovirus. Attempts were made to characterize the virus at biological and serological levels so as to identify whether the tospovirusis a distinct virus species or a strain of TSWV serogroup I, II, III.