First report of cucumber mosaic cucumovirus in banana from Pakistan

During regular surveys of banana plantations in the Sindh province of Pakistan for banana bunchy top nanavirus (BBTV), sporadic plants showing mosaic, chlorotic spots intermingled with a dark green area were observed at a few places in the districts of Thatta, Hyderabad and Nawabshah. The infected young plants were uprooted and grown in pots for 2 years to ascertain the cause of the disease. Apart from studying the development of symptoms, the infected plants were tested for the presence of BBTV, cucumber mosaic cucumovirus (CMV), chilli veinal mottle potyvirus (CVMV), tomato mosaic tobamovirus (TMV), potato X potexvirus (PVX) and potato Y potyvirus (PVY) by DAS‐ELISA. Virions were also partially purified. The infected plants developed typical symptoms of CMV. All tested plants were ELISA‐positive only for CMV, and a partially purified preparation revealed virus particles measuring 25–28 nm in diameter. Based on the characteristic field symptoms, serology and particle morphology, the presence of CMV in banana in Pakistan was established.