Groundnut eyespot virus, a new member of the potyvirus group

A virus causing ‘eyespot’ leaf symptoms in groundnut plants was transmitted by sap-inoculation and by Aphis craccivora in the non-persistent manner. It infected 16 of 72 species from five of 12 families and was easily propagated in Arachis hypogaea and Physalis floridana. The virus has particles c. 13 × 755 nm and is serologically closely related to soybean mosaic and pepper veinal mottle viruses, and more distantly to four other potyviruses. The virus differs in host range, in vitro properties and serological properties from previously described strains of soybean mosaic and pepper veinal mottle viruses. It seems to be a distinct member of the potyvirus group and we propose the name groundnut eyespot virus.