The highland area of the State of Espírito Santo is an important area for vegetable production comprising the counties of Vargem Alta, Venda Nova do Imigrante and Domingos Martins. A survey for viruses occurrence in the tomato and the sweetpepper crops was done in October, 2003. One hundred and thirty five leaf samples from tomato and sweetpepper showing virus-like symptoms were analyzed by serology and indicator hosts. Epidemics of Pepper Yellow mosaic virus, was observed in tomato and susceptible sweetpepper hybrids. Groundnut ring spot virus the only tospovirus species detected, and Cucumber mosaic virus was sporadically occurred. Potato virus Y, tobamoviruses and other tospoviruses were not detected in any of the analyzed leaf samples. Although high populations of the whitefly Bemisia argentifolii were present in tomato and sweetpepper no begomovirus-like symptoms were observed.
Lycopersicon esculentum; Capsicum annuum
