Virus diseases, causing yield losses in the range of 60-100%, are considered the major constraint to the economic production of peppers (Capsicum sp.). Some 35 viruses are known to infect pepper. In Asia, the most important viruses are cucumber mosaic virus (CMV), chilli veinal mottle virus (CVMV), potato virus Y (PVY) and tobamoviruses, tobacco mosaic virus (TMV), tomato mosaic virus (ToMV), and pepper mild mottle virus (PMMV). Viruses of minor importance are broad bean wilt virus (BBWV), alfalfa mosaic virus (AIMV), and potato virus X (PVX). tobacco rattle virus (TRV), tomato spotted wilt virus (TSWV), and pepper mottle virus (PeMV) needs confirmation. Extensive virus surveys and virus characterization have been conducted in most Asian countries. However, only a few countries, such as Japan, Korea, Malaysia, Taiwan, and India, are engaged in breeding for virus resistance. Research on alternative control methods, such as by management practices and biological means have been conducted in Indonesia, India, Taiwan, Korea, and Malaysia, Screening for resistance is done in almost all countries, and suitable resistance sources have been identified. The multidisciplinary Pepper Breeding Program of the Asian Vegetable Research and Development Center (AVRDC) has recently been complemented by the pepper virus subnetwork of AVNET which aims to confirm or identify the most important viruses in the region (Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, the Philippines) and to find field tolerance or resistance by multilocational screening of resistant lines identified in the national agricultural research systems (NARS) or elsewhere. In another network, SAVERNET (South Asian Vegetable Research Network), six countries (Pakistan, India, sri Lanka, Nepal, Bangladesh, Bhutan) work to identify the viruses involved in the pepper leafcurl virus complex and to develop feasible control methods. [AS]
