Detection of mixed infection of potyvirus and tobamovirus in Bitter Gourd (Momordica charantia) in Karnataka State, India

Bitter gourd, (Momordica charantia) is one of the most popular vegetables in India. However, the major limiting factor is the virus disease for poor productivity of this crop. In this study, virus infection in bitter gourd plant at Experimental fields of ICAR-Indian Institute of Horticultural Research, Bengaluru was studied. Leaf dip preparations of infected sample under transmission electron microscope (TEM), direct antigen coated enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (DAC-ELISA) using specific antisera and reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) using primers targeting coat protein gene of potyvirus and tobamovirus revealed the presence of two types of viruses potyvirus and tobamovirus in the infected bitter gourd plants; to our knowledge, this is the rare report of mixed infection of potyvirus and a tobamovirus in bitter gourds in Karnataka state.