TITLE:
Potyvirus Affecting Uchuva (Physalis peruviana L.) in Centro Agropecuario Marengo, Colombia
AUTHORS:
William Aguirre-Ráquira, Daniel Borda, Lilliana Hoyos-Carvajal
KEYWORDS:
Plant-Virus, Solanaceae, Mixed-Infection, Vectors, Host-Plant, South America
JOURNAL NAME:
Agricultural Sciences,
Vol.5 No.10,
August
28,
2014
ABSTRACT: Fruit production
and especially fresh tropical fruit trade, has an important relevance on world
economy. Refining knowledge on virus diseases affecting tropical fruits is
required to improve the understanding of these diseases, their dynamics and
consequently, the ability to manage them. In this paper, samples of “uchuva”
plants (Physalis peruviana L.) obtained from Centro Agropecuario Marengo
(CAM) Municipality of Mosquera, Cundinamarca region of Colombia were analyzed
after expressing symptoms of leaf chlorosis, leaf malformation, mosaic patterns
and dwarfing. Electron microscopy revealed the presence of two different viral
particles congruent with Potyvirus and Tobamovirus genus
morphology. The presence of Potyvirus affecting the P. peruviana L. culture
was confirmed in the samples analyzed by means of electronic microscopy images
and serology. Similarly, the existence of viral particles with coherent
characteristics of a putative Tobamovirus was observed. However, its
presence could not be confirmed by means of serological tests. Nevertheless,
its incidence should not be neglected. The mechanism of Potyvirus disease
transmission in P. peruviana L. remains unknown, as well as the vectors
associated with this disease. Therefore, complementary work and research should
be considered. In addition to serology and electron microscopy, the use of
indicator plants for diagnosis is suggested. Finally, a complete molecular
characterization of the Potyvirus is recommended for a better
understanding of the characteristics of its association with P. peruviana L.