Pepper Mild Mottle Virus
- Issue type
- disease
- Seedborne
- Yes, travels on seed
- Resistance code
- PMMoV, L1, L2, L3, L4
- Affects
- Pepper
Symptoms
Mild leaf mottling that is easy to miss, followed by the damage that matters: small, distorted, lumpy fruit with brown necrotic streaking. Extremely stable, surviving on tools, hands, and plant debris for years.
Management
The L-gene series is the textbook case of resistance genes versus pathogen races: L1 through L4 each defeat successive PMMoV pathotypes, and the pathogen has repeatedly evolved past them. Commercial seed is treated and indexed; sanitation between plantings is not optional.
Varieties with documented resistance
| Variety | Level | Code | Basis | Days | Breeding |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aristotle | resistant | L3 | Independently observed | 70-75 | F1 hybrid |
This is the page where the difference matters most, because it is where a variety gets chosen for its resistance. Breeder declared means the claim comes from whoever breeds or sells the seed, which for most resistance genes is the only evidence that exists. Independently observed means an institution with no stake in the sale grew the plant and reported what happened.
Sources & References
Evidence: 3 sources, all independent references.
- Pepper Production Guides · University of Florida IFAS Extension, University or Government
- Chile Pepper Institute research and variety releases · New Mexico State University, University or Government
- Overview of Biotic Stresses in Pepper (Capsicum spp.): Sources of Genetic Resistance, Molecular Breeding and Genomics · International Journal of Molecular Sciences (2020), Peer-Reviewed