Damage quantification in Physalis peruviana L. infected by the new putative sobemovirus physalis rugose mosaic virus

A putative new virus, physalis rugose mosaic virus (PhyRMV), has been reported more frequently in Physalis peruviana associated with severe symptoms. In this study the damage caused by sap-inoculated PhyRMV in P. peruviana was assessed based on the comparison of host vegetative and reproductive parameters between virus-infected and healthy plants. Infected plants confirmed using molecular assays, showed a reduction in growth, leaf area, specific leaf area (SLA) and relative chlorophyll content. PhyRMV-infected plants yielded 70% less fruit of general lower quality parameters, except for pH, compared with the healty plants. Finally, seeds from PhyRMV-infected plants showed a reduced germination rate and, in accelerated aging assay, vigor of seeds were also significantly reduced.