Detection and molecular characterization of begomoviruses infecting chilli pepper

Begomovirus is highest economic impact virus on vegetables production in Pakistan. Severe leaf curl disease was noticed on chilli pepper plants growing in agriculture fields in Talagang (Punjab Province, Pakistan). Symptomatic plants exhibited leaf curl, yellow vein and stunted growth. Whitefly transmitted geminiviruses were initially detected by TAS-ELISA using panel of ten monoclonal antibodies. Monoclonal antibodies indicated the presence of begomoviruses. Total DNA was extracted from TAS-ELISA positive samples and PCR was carried out using begomovirus degenerate primers. Sequence demarcation tool (SDT) and phylogenetic anaylsis indicated diversity of begomoviruses infecting chilli pepper. Three begomoviruses are present in chilli pepper. Three identified begomoviruses clusters with Croton yellow vein mosaic virus {CYVMV; MG587927}, Tobacco curly shoot virus {TbCSV; MG587925} and Tomato leaf curl karnatka virus {TLCKV; MG587926} in phylogenetic tree. Results provide serological and molecular evidence that tomato and weeds infecting begomoviruses causes yield loss in the study area in chilli pepper.