Epidiemology and Control of Pepper Veinal Mottle virus Disease of Pepper

Epidiemology of PVMV disease of pepper (C. annuum L.) was done in 6 agro-ecological zones of Nigeria. The virus was isolated and its physical properties determined. Cultural methods were evaluated for the control of the disease. The percentage viral disease incidence observed ranged between 39.14% with 34.48% severity in the Sudan savanna to 50.12% with 43.85% severity in the derived savanna zone. Six species of aphid, were identified in the pepper fields surveyed in all the zones and there transmission ability of PVMV to healthy pepper varied. The application of 10 tons/ha and 20 tons/ha poultry manure showed a significant (p<0.05)effect in reducing the incidence and severity of PVMV disease on the 3 varieties of the C. annuum cultivated when compared with the same varieties in the untreated plots.The yield of pepper decreased with increasing PVMV disease incidence and severity in all the treatments. Viral disease incidence and severity were relatively higher in the sole pepper crop compared with pepper intercropped with plantain, cassava, or maize. There was a significant (p<0.05)difference in viral disease incidence and severity in all the treatment used.