Potato Virus Y (PVY) on pepper in Serbia

Abstract

During 1997, samples of plants showing symptoms of a viral disease were collected from thirteen pepper growing areas. On some plants characteristic symptoms of Potato Virus Y (PVY) infection were observed. Pepper samples were tested by applying the direct immunoenzyme test (DAS ELISA). For the identification of the virus a PVY antiserum was used, i.e. the kit of Loewe Biochemica, GmbH Germany. Isolation of the virus was performed by the method of mechanical inoculation using 0.01 M phosphate buffer (pH-7) and 0.1% Na2SO3 from the infected pepper samples. Identification of the virus strains was performed on the basis of the reaction of differential pepper genotypes. The virus was identified according to pepper disease symptoms, DAS ELISA test, reaction of inoculated test plants, way of transmission and its biophysical constants. On the basis of the observed reaction of the differential pepper genotypes, two strains of this virus were identified.