First report of Pepino mosaic virus in Cyprus
In Cyprus, symptoms resembling those of Pepino mosaic virus (Potexvirus, PepMV – EPPO Alert List) were observed in January 2009 on
glasshouse tomatoes. Laboratory tests confirmed the presence of PepMV in diseased plants. An extensive survey was performed in 2009 and 2010 in field and glasshouse tomato crops to determine the incidence of PepMV on the island. More than 2500 samples were collected from 23 locations in the main tomato growing-areas of Cyprus. In addition, weed samples were randomly collected from 2 tomato crops infected by PepMV (glasshouse crop in Parekklisia near Lemesos - field crop in Odou near Larnaka). Results showed that PepMV was present in glasshouse and tomato field crops in three districts: Ammochostos (Sotira, Paralimni), Larnaka (Odou, Melini, Zygi), and Lemesos (Parekklisia, Pyrgos, Zakaki). PepMV was also detected in numerous weed samples (i.e. Amaranthus retroflexus, A. viridis, A. graecizans, Calendula arvensis, Chenopodium murale, Chrysanthemum segetum, Convolvulus arvensis, C. humilis, Datura innoxia, Malva neglecta, M. nicaeensis, M. parviflora, M. sylvestris, Onopordum cyprium, Plantago lagopus, P. major, Solanum nigrum, Sonchus asper, S. oleraceus, S. tenerrimus). Finally, all tested Cypriot isolates belonged to the CH2 genotype. This is the first report of PepMV in Cyprus.
The situation of Pepino mosaic virus in Cyprus can be described as follows: Present, first found in 2009, detected in the districts of Ammochostos, Larnaka, and Lemesos.
Sources
Papayiannis LC, Kokkinos CD, Alfaro-Fernández A (2012) Detection, characterization and host range studies of Pepino mosaic virus in Cyprus. European Journal of Plant Pathology 132(1), 1-7.