Variation in the concentration and indexing black pepper plants for PYMoV and CMV through DAS-ELISA

Abstract

Variation in concentration of Piper yellow mottle virus(PYMoV) and Cucumber mosaic virus(CMV) in stunded disease infected black pepper plants from different varieties/cultivars during different months of a year was studied by DAS-ELISA. Higher A405 values were recorded from October to February in four varieties/cultivars of black pepper tested and Panniyur-1 had the highest concentration of boththe viruses. Results on distribution of the viruses within a plant fom three varieties/cultivars showed that young leaf contained highest concentration of both the viruses while root region recorded the least. A total of 2186 black pepper nursery plants from eleven varieties were indexed by DAS-ELISA for the presence of viruses. Of these, 714 plants were found infected with either of the two viruses. Among these, IISR-Sreekara had the highest number of infected plants followed by IISR-Subhakara while Panniyur-5 had the least number of infected plants. Of the 714 plants tested positive, 390 plants exhibited no visible external symptoms indicating the necessity for sensitive diagnosis in identifying virus-free planting material.