Groundnut ringspot virus: an Emerging Tospovirus Inducing Disease in Peanut Crops

Peanut (Arachis hypogaea L.) plants showing Tospovirus- like symptoms were observed in Co´ rdoba province (central Argentina). Peanut plants were collected and tested to identify the causal agent. Tospovirus-like particles were observed by electron microscopy and Groundnut ringspot virus (GRSV) was identified by double antibody sandwich-enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (DAS-ELISA) and reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Partial nucleotide and deduced amino acid sequences of the nucleocapsid (N) gene indicated a high degree of identity with other GRSV sequences. This is the first report of the GRSV occurrence on peanuts in Argentina.