Phytochemical studies of virus infected Capsicum and molecular characterisation of viral pathogen

Abstract

newline Capsicum is a cash crop of Himachal Pradesh commonly known for the abundance of newlineantioxidants. Viral disease incidence has become very prominent in this crop. A total 19 newlineviruses are known to infect Capsicum crop in India. In the present investigation entitled, newline Phytochemical studies of virus infected Capsicum and molecular characterisation of viral newlinepathogen , a survey was conducted and 51 leaf samples were collected on the basis of newlinesymptoms from three districts of Himachal Pradesh i.e. Kangra, Kullu and Mandi. All the newlinecollected samples were analysed for the presence of viruses and their effect on phytochemical newlineconstituents. In addition to this, molecular characterisation of most prevalent virus was carried newlineout. Screening of the samples for the presence of viruses through DAS-ELISA and newlineidentification and confirmation through RT-PCR revealed that CMV, PVY, PVX, GBNV, newlinePSTVd (viroid) and TYLCV were the common viruses which infect Capsicum crop in newlineHimachal Pradesh. The percent viral infection in Capsicum was 58.8 percent for CMV, 37.2 newlinepercent for PVY, 7.8 percent for TYLCV, 29.4 percent for PVX and 1.96 percent for PSTVd newlineand GBNV both. Thus, CMV was the most prevalent virus in Capsicum crop. A significant newlinedecrease was observed in virus infected leaf samples of Capsicum for antioxidant activity, newlinetotal carotenoids, total chlorophyll and ascorbic acid content Whereas total phenols and total newlineflavonoids increased in infected samples.The molecular characterisation of CMV was carried newlineout. An amplicon of approximately 829 bp, 958 bp, 1,314 bp, 373 bp, 842 bp and 647 bp for newline1a helicase,1a methyltransferase, 2a, 2b, 3a and 3b genes were obtained. BLASTn analysis newlinerevealed that 1a helicase protein gene showed 98.35 percent identity with 1a helicase isolate newlineof Capsicum sp. from Germany,1a methyltransferase protein gene showed 98.21 percent newlineidentity with 1a methyltransferase protein gene isolate of Tagetus erecta. from India, 2a newlineprotein gene showed 99.39 percent identity with Cucumber mosaic virus isolate TC segment newlineo