Surveys of peanut crops in northeastern Brazil since 1995 showed the occurr
ence of a hitherto unreported virus disease. Characteristic leaf symptoms w
ere ring spots and blotches. The virus was seed transmitted in peanut (1/61
0) and cowpea (47/796). Local and systemic symptoms were observed in cowpea
(cv. TVu 3433) known to be susceptible to most Cowpea aphid-borne mosaic v
ines (CABMV) isolates. The virus was transmitted by aphids Toxoptera citric
idus and Aphis gossypii. Using degenerate primers, the 3' terminal region o
f the viral genome was cloned and sequenced. Sequence analyses of the coat
protein and the 3' untranslated region indicated that the potyvirus was mos
t closely related to CABMV isolates from South Africa, Zimbabwe, and the Un
ited States. On the basis of genome analysis, the virus was identified as C
ABMV. The natural occurrence of CABMV on peanut has so far not been reporte
d. The significance of this finding especially for germ plasm exchange is d
iscussed.