A VARIED POPULATION OF CUCUMBER MOSAIC-VIRUS FROM PEPPERS

A varied population of Cucumber Mosaic Virus (CMV) isolates is reporte d from peppers (Capsicum annuum) in Australia. Isolates representing b oth CMV subgroups (serogroups) I and II have been obtained from the sa me field at the same sampling time. The CMV isolates were typed into s ubgroup I (eight isolates) and subgroup II (two isolates) using both a nucleic acid hybridization assay and an immunological assay with mono clonal antibodies. The immunological assay described allows the typing of strains in crude sap extracts, obviating the need for purified vir ions. The spatial and temporal coincidence of both CMV subgroups prese nts a situation in which pseudorecombinants with reassorted genomic co mponents might arise.