Molecular Characterisation of Viruses Infecting Selected Vegetables Grown Within University of Cross River State

Vegetable crops play very important role in human nutrition and medicine. The production of these crops is seriously under threat due to virus infection. Field survey within gardens and farms located within the University of Cross River State, Nigeria during the 2023 planting season revealed evidence of virus infection of selected vegetable crops like Cucurbita pepo, tomatoes and Trichosanthes cucumerina. Infected leaf samples were obtained and total RNA extracted using CTAB protocol and further tested using RT-PCR and gene sequence analysis. The results obtained revealed that Cucurbit aphid-borne yellows virus (CABYV) was detected in Cucurbita pepo virus while Tomato spotted wilt virus (TSWV) was detected in tomatoes and Trichosanthes mottle potyvirus (TMPV) was detected in Trichosanthe scucumerina. This is one among other reports on virus infection on vegetables worldwide. This is the first detection and molecular characterization of CABYV, TSWV, and TMPV in Nigeria.