The objective of this work was to determine the distribution of potyviruses and begomoviruses in areas for pepper (Capsicum annuum L.) production in Cuba. Six hundred samples were collected with viral symptoms during 2006-2010. The samples were evaluated by DAS-UMELISA method using a polyclonal antibody to PVY to detect potyvirus presence, and 50 positive plants were assessed by a RT-PCR with universal (PolyT / Poty 4) primers to confirm the result. Also, the total DNA from these plants was extracted and analyzed by non radioactive NASH method with a probe from intergenic region of TYLCV to detect the begomovirus presence; these results were confirmed evaluating 50 positive samples using a PCR with generic primers (Palv1978/PARc496). The evaluation by DAS-UMELISA showed 78, 33% of potyvirus infection from the total plants collected and the results obtained by RT-PCR allowed confirming them. A begomovirus infection of 46, 17% of was determined and the amplicons obtained by PCR corresponded in size. The mixed infections in the crop reached 39, 17%. The potyviruses and begomoviruses are present in the main producing pepper areas in Cuba, being demonstrated this in study the potyvirus prevalence in the visited areas, and a high percentage of mixed infections in this crop. This integral study will contribute to the improvement of the integrated pest management and breeding programs in the country.

El objetivo del trabajo fue determinar la distribución de potyvirus y begomovirus en áreas productoras de pimiento (Capsicum annuum L.) en Cuba. Se colectaron 600 muestras con síntomas virales durante el periodo 2006-2010. Las muestras se evaluaron mediante el método UMELISA-DAS utilizando un anticuerpo policlonal a PVY para detectar su presencia y de estas se evaluaron 50 plantas positivas con los cebadores universales (PolyT/Poty 4) en una RT-PCR para confirmar el resultado. También se extrajo el ADN total de las plantas y se analizó mediante la técnica de HAN no radiactiva con una sonda de la región intergénica del TYLCV, cuyos resultados se confirmaron en 50 muestras positivas utilizando una PCR con cebadores genéricos (Palv1978/PARc496). La evaluación mediante UMELISA-DAS mostró que del total de plantas colectadas el 78,33% estaba infectado por potyvirus y los resultados obtenidos en la RT-PCR lo confirmaron. El análisis por HAN mostró un 46,17% de infección por begomovirus y se obtuvieron amplicones de la longitud esperada en la PCR. Se determinó la presencia de infecciones mixtas en el cultivo en el 39,17 % de las muestras. Los potyvirus y begomovirus se encontraron presentes en los principales macizos productores del cultivo en Cuba, evidenciándose la prevalencia de los potyvirus en las áreas estudiadas, y un alto porcentaje de infecciones mixtas entre estos. Este estudio integral contribuirá al perfeccionamiento de los programas de manejo integrado de plagas y mejoramiento genético del cultivo en el país.

Begomovírus são vírus de DNA circular fita simples transmitidos por mosca branca, os quais são frequentemente associados com plantas daninhas. O objetivo deste trabalho foi caracterizar a diversidade de begomovírus infectando plantas daninhas (principalmente Sida spp.) no Brasil. DNA total foi extraído a partir de plantas daninhas coletadas em Viçosa (Minas Gerais) e em alguns municípios do estado de Alagoas em 2009 e 2010. Os genomas virais foram amplificados por RCA, clonados e sequenciados. Um total de 26 clones de DNA-A foram obtidos. A análise das sequências indicou a presença de dez diferentes begomovírus. Todos os isolados originários de Blainvillea rhomboidea pertencem a uma única espécie viral, Blainvillea yellow spot virus (BlYSV), sugerindo que o BlYSV pode ser o único begomovírus presente nesta espécie de planta invasora. Quatro isolados representam espécies novas, para as quais os seguintes nomes são propostos: Sida yellow blotch virus (SiYBV), Sida yellow net virus (SiYNV), Sida mottle Alagoas virus (SiMoAV) e Sida yellow mosaic Alagoas virus (SiYMAV). Eventos de recombinação foram detectados entre isolados de SiYBV e no isolado de SiYNV. Estes resultados constituem uma evidência adicional da alta diversidade de espécies de begomovírus em Sida spp. Contudo, o possível papel dessas plantas daninhas como fonte de begomovírus para plantas cultivadas ainda permanece indeterminado.

Begomoviruses are whitefly-transmitted, single-stranded DNA viruses that are often associated with weed plants. The aim of this study was to further characterize the diversity of begomoviruses infecting weeds (mostly Sida spp.) in Brazil. Total DNA was extracted from weed samples collected in Viçosa (Minas Gerais state) and in some municipalities of Alagoas state in 2009 and 2010. Viral genomes were amplified by RCA, cloned and sequenced. A total of 26 DNA-A clones were obtained. Sequence analysis indicated the presence of 10 begomoviruses. All viral isolates from Blainvillea rhomboidea belonged to the same species, Blainvillea yellow spot virus (BlYSV ), thereby suggesting that BlYSV may be the only begomovirus present in this weed species. Four isolates represent new species, for which the following names are proposed: Sida yellow blotch virus (SiYBV), Sida yellow net virus (SiYNV), Sida mottle Alagoas virus (SiMoAV) and Sida yellow mosaic Alagoas virus (SiYMAV). Recombination events were detected among the SiYBV isolates and in the SiYNV isolate. These results constitute further evidence of the high species diversity of begomoviruses in Sida spp. However, the role of this weed species as a source of begomoviruses infecting crop plants remains to be determined.