Disease Incidence of Pepper Mottle Virus on Chilli Pepper (Capsicum frutescens) in Kwara State, North Central Nigeria

Chilli pepper (Capsicum frutescens) cultivation in Kwara State contributes to household dietary diversity and provides an important cash crop for women farmers engaged in vegetable production along the Niger River floodplains. Pepper Mottle Virus (PepMoV), a potyvirus transmitted primarily by aphid vectors, has been observed causing mosaic, mottle, and distortion symptoms in chilli pepper fields across the state. This study investigated the incidence of Pepper Mottle Virus on chilli pepper in five farming communities in Kwara State during the 2023 growing season. Disease incidence was assessed using systematic field observation transects, and symptomatic plant materials were subjected to enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction confirmatory tests. PepMoV infection was confirmed in 57 percent of tested plants across all survey sites, with co-infections with Cucumber Mosaic Virus noted in a subset of samples. Aphid population densities correlated positively with PepMoV incidence across all sites. Farms adjacent to weedy borders had significantly higher virus incidence compared to well-managed plots. Most farmers surveyed were unfamiliar with aphid control as a strategy for virus management, relying instead on post-infection pesticide applications that provided limited benefit. The study recommends the promotion of reflective mulches, early planting strategies, and aphid monitoring as preventive approaches to PepMoV management. Keywords: chilli pepper, Pepper Mottle Virus, aphid vector, Kwara State, disease incidence.