Management of Tomato Mosaic Virus in Hydroponically Grown Pepper (Capsicum annuum)

Abstract

A tobamovirus causing severe systemic necrosis of hydroponically grown pepper plants (Capsicum annuum ''Hungarian Wax'') was identified by host plants reactions immunodiffusion tests as tomato mosaic virus (ToMV) (EPCOT isolate). Twenty-eight pepper cultivars were screened for resistance to this isolate. Anaheim TMR 23 and Rio Grande Gold were the most resisant cultivars; plants exhibited necrotic local lesions and abscission of inoculated leaves. Golden Belle, Hidalgo, Super Stuff, Tamcascabella, and Tam Mild Jalapeno-1 were the most susceptible cultivars; plants exhibited foliar chlorosis and severe systemic necrosis, which resulted in the death of the plants within 21 days. Seven santizing solutions were tested for their ability to reduce To MV transmission between plants via pruning shears. Symptoms developed in 70% of control plants pruned with To MV-contaminated, chemically untreated shears. The transmission was reduced, with the virus being transmitted to 3, 17, 22, and 39% of inoculated plants, when the shears were treated with 10% trisodium phosphate, a combination of 0.26% NaOCl and 0.01% Ivory Liquid, 0.26% NaOCl, and 0.4% RD20, respectively. To MV transmission was not significantly reduced when the pruning shears were treated with 0.01% Ivory Liquid, sterile deionized water, or 70% ethanol.