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

Abstract

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.