VIRUS DISEASES OF PEPPER (CAPSICUM-ANNUUM-L) IN ETHIOPIA

Viruses occurring in hot pepper (Capsicum annuum L.) in Ethiopia durin g 1984-1986 were identified and their symptomatology, host range, sero logy, morphology and transmission described. Potyviruses were found to cause severe infections of pepper wherever the crop was observed. Dis ease incidence and yield loss in most surveyed areas were estimated at 40-100 % and 15-50 % respectively. Besides potato Y and pepper veinal mottle viruses, a new potyvirus with distinctive properties was found widely distributed in Shewa and Welega Provinces. The virus, tentativ ely designated Ethiopian pepper mottle virus (EPMV), was shown to have an unusually narrow experimental host range and filamentous particles about 700-750 nm in length, and to be nonpersistently transmitted by aphids but not transmissible through pepper seeds. Cucumber mosaic vir us was detected in some locations, but appeared to be of minor signifi cance.