First molecular characterization of pepper chat fruit viroid infecting pepper crops in Turkey

Abstract Turkey is well suited for growing a variety of vegetables, including various solanaceous crops. Among them, pepper ( Capsicum annuum L.) is the second most economically important solanaceous vegetable crop. Although studies have explored the viruses that cause significant economic damage to pepper crops, there is no available information on the presence of viroids infecting peppers in Turkey. Therefore, this study aims to detect the possible presence of pepper chat fruit viroid (PCFVd) in pepper. Conducted across three provinces, it involved the collection of 140 leaf samples from plants exhibiting virus-like symptoms such as yellowing, mottling, and stunting. Using specific primers for RT-PCR, PCFVd was found in 10% of the 30 samples in Gaziantep, 10% of the 40 samples Kahramanmaraş, and 30% of the 70 samples in Adana. Sequence analysis demonstrated 96–100% nucleotide similarity among local isolates and more than 93% with global PCFVd isolates. This study detected for the first time the presence of PCFVd at three different localities in Turkey in open-field cultivation. The moderately high incidence of PCFVd (20%) suggests that the viroid may already be widespread in Turkish pepper cultivars, which could significantly affect pepper production in Turkey. This research highlights the importance of monitoring viroids, particularly in solanaceous crops and the need for further investigation into viroid infections to mitigate potential economic impacts.