Identification of okra mosaic virus from Indigofera spicata in Nigeria

Okra mosaic virus (OMV, tymovirus group) was isolated from Indigofera spicata plants growing at the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) in Ibadan, Nigeria. Its identity was established on the basis of particle morphology, analysis of viral coat protein and nucleic acid and serology. In reciprocal agar gel diffusion tests, the virus isolate from I. spicata and an OMV isolate from okra in Ibadan (OMV-Ibadan isolate) were found to be serologically identical. However, because the isolates differ in symptom induction in various host plants, the name OMV-Indigofera isolate is suggested. This is the first report on the occurence of OMV in I. spicata.