Identification of Pepper mild mottle virus in Commercial Bell Pepper in Florida.

Pepper mild mottle virus (PMMoV) has been identified on pepper in Florida several times since 1997. Initial observations were on ornamental peppers (Capsicum chinense, C. frutescens, and C. annuum). However, in the winter growing seasons of 1999 and 2000, PMMoV was detected in several bell pepper (C. annuum) cultivars in commercial production fields in south Florida. Symptoms in bell pepper plants were observed to vary with plant age and cultivar, and included stunting of young plants and puckering and yellow mottling of leaves. Fruit was deformed (lumpy and mottled) and slightly reduced in size. Older fruit exhibited brown streaks and, in some cultivars, an undesirable color at maturity. Incidence in commercial bell pepper fields varied from <1 to 30%. Symptoms on mechanically inoculated indicator hosts, analysis of viral-associated double-stranded RNA, and inclusion body morphology suggested the presence of a tobamovirus. PMMoV was specifically identified by serological testing using ELISA (Agdia, Elkhart, IN). To our knowledge, this is the first definitive identification of PMMoV (2) in Florida, although a prior isolation of the same or a similar virus was made in 1964 and reported as the Samsun latent strain of Tobacco mosaic virus (1). The occurrence of this seedborne virus in an area of intensive commercial pepper production requires careful monitoring to avoid future significant losses. References: (1) W. H. Greenleaf et al. Phytopathology 54:1367, 1964. (2) C. Wetter. Plant Dis. 68:597, 1984.

Aggregation pheromone for the pepper weevil,Anthonomus eugenii cano (Coleoptera: Curculionidae): Identification and field activity.

This study describes the identification of an aggregation pheromone for the pepper weevil,Anthonomus eugenii and field trials of a synthetic pheromone blend. Volatile collections and gas chromatography revealed the presence of six male-specific compounds. These compounds were identified using chromatographic and spectral techniques as: (Z)-2-(3,3-dimethylcyclohexylidene)ethanol, (E)-2-(3,3-dimethylcyclohexylidene)ethanol, (Z)-(3,3-dimethylcyclohexylidene)acetaldehyde, (E)-(3,3-dimethylcyclohexylidene)acetaldehyde, (E)-3,7-dimethyl-2,6-octadienoic acid (geranic acid), and (E)-3,7-dimethyl-2,6-octadien-1-ol (geraniol). The emission rates of these compounds from feeding males were determined to be about: 7.2, 4.8, 0.45, 0.30, 2.0, and 0.30µg/male/day, respectively. Sticky traps baited with a synthetic blend of these compounds captured more pepper weevils (both sexes) than did unbaited control traps or pheromone-baited boll weevil traps. Commercial and laboratory formulations of the synthetic pheromone were both attractive. However, the commercial formulation did not release geranic acid properly, and geranic acid is necessary for full activity. The pheromones of the pepper weevil and the boll weevil are compared. Improvements for increasing trap efficiency and possible uses for the pepper weevil pheromone are discussed. A convenient method for purifying geranic acid is also described.