Physalis micrantha L., a weed host of pepper veinal mottle virus.

ABSTRACT Pepper veinal mottle virus (PVMV) was isolated from Physalis micrantha L. Infected plants exhibited leaf mottling, vein-banding and blistering. The virus was readily transmitted from this host to pepper (Capsicum annuum L. cv. L5962-2) and vice versa by sap and by two species of aphids (Aphis craccivora Koch, and A. gossypii Clover). The virus was identified on the basis of physical and serological properties. Symptoms were reproduced in healthy P. micrantha by mechanical inoculation with crude sap from infected P. micrantha, Natural infection of P. micrantha by PVMV has not been reported previously.