**2. Viruses of pepper**

### **2.1 Genus:** *Potyvirus*

The genus *Potyvirus* consists of a large group of plant viruses that are widespread, infecting economically important crops like tomato, potato, eggplant and pepper [12]. Members of this genus have non-enveloped flexuous filamentous single-stranded RNA (ssRNA) particles about 680–900 nm long and 11–15 nm wide [13]. The symptoms induced by potyviruses include mottling, mosaic, curling, vein banding or clearing, chlorosis, blistering and severe stunting of the whole plant. Severity of these symptoms depends on the *Capsicum* variety, virus strain and presence of other viruses. The major potyviruses infecting *Capsicum* spp. in Africa include PVMV, ChiVMV, PepMoV, PVY and TEV [12].
