PREVALENCE, OCCURRENCE AND DISTRIBUTION OF CHILI VEINAL MOTTLE VIRUS IN PAKISTAN

Abstract

Chili veinal mottle virus (ChiVMV) is one of the prevalent chili-infecting virus found throughout chili growing areas of Pakistan. Disease monitoring during 2003 and 2004 showed 44.7% relative occurrence of the virus in the country. In the year 2003, the relative occurrence was 48, 51, 41 and 38% in Sindh, Punjab, NWFP and Balochistan whereas during 2004, the relative occurrence was 47, 44, 41 and 34% respectively in the provinces. Highest relative occurrence was recorded in Sindh (47.3%) and Punjab (46.9%) followed by NWFP (41.3%) and Balochistan (35.7%). No district was found free from the viral infection in Sindh and Punjab except from few locations of NWFP (Dir, Bajour Agency, and Lakky Marwat District) and Balochistan (Kachi and Loralai districts). Among weed flora of chili pepper, Datura metel was found in Punjab province. Moreover, among insect vectors, Aphis gossypii were observed in NWFP during surveys.