Natural occurrence of cucumber mosaic virus infecting Physalis peruviana plants in Brazil

In 2020, virus-like symptoms such as leaf size reduction, mosaic, and blistering were observed in Physalis peruviana plants in Brazil. Isometric particles ca. 30 nm in diameter were observed by transmission electron microscope in leaf extracts of field-symptomatic plants. Based on molecular assays and nucleotide sequencing of amplicons, cucumber mosaic virus (CMV, genus Cucumovirus) was identified in mixed infection with physalis rugose mosaic virus (PhyRMV, genus Sobemovirus). Phylogenetic analysis indicated that the CMV belongs to the subgroup IA. Symptoms like those of field symptomatic plants were observed on mechanically inoculated plants of P. peruviana. RT-PCR confirmed CMV and PhyRMV infection. CMV was transmitted by Aphis gossypii to P. peruviana plants. This is the first report of CMV infecting P. peruviana plants in Brazil.

Automated summary

In 2020, virus-like symptoms were observed in Physalis peruviana plants in Brazil, with leaf size reduction, mosaic, and blistering. Transmission electron microscopy revealed the presence of isometric particles approximately 30 nm in diameter in leaf extracts. Molecular assays and nucleotide sequencing confirmed a mixed infection of cucumber mosaic virus (CMV) and physalis rugose mosaic virus (PhyRMV). Phylogenetic analysis showed that the CMV belonged to subgroup IA. CMV and PhyRMV were confirmed by RT-PCR and CMV was transmitted by Aphis gossypii. This is the first report of CMV infecting P. peruviana plants in Brazil.