According to the United Nations, the global human population has surpassed 8.0 billion and is anticipated to escalate to 9.7 billion by the 2050s. To sustain this growing population, we must augment our global food production. Moreover, to guarantee nutritional security, we must produce a varied range of nourishing and nutrient-rich foods. Currently, micronutrient deficiency is the dominant cause of impaired human health in many developing nations (1). Vegetables are crucial to ensuring food and nutritional security as they are a rich source of vitamins, minerals, and dietary fibers (2). Among different vegetables, capsicum (Capsicum spp.), also known as bell pepper, is an exceptional source of vitamins C, A, and E; carotenoids; and other essential nutrients such as fiber, potassium, and folate (3). Globally, the total capsicum production was 752,000 tons in 2017, with 4.1 billion dollars in total market revenue (2018) (https://www.researchandmarkets.com/reports/4701016/world-pepper-market-analysis-forecast). Its versatility and accessibility render it an essential constituent of a balanced and nutritious diet. Globally, capsicum is widely cultivated in varied climates spanning tropical to temperate regions, under both open and protected cultivation (1).

Capsicum production faces numerous constraints; of these, diseases and insect pests are the most significant (4–6). A wide range of phytopathogens, including fungi (such as Colletotrichum truncatum, Phytopthora capsici, and Leveillula taurica), bacteria (Xanthomonas and Ralstonia), viruses (such as tobamoviruses, tospoviruses, potyviruses, and cucumoviruses), nematodes, and insects, damage capsicum plants, resulting in extensive yield losses (6). Of all the categories of phytopathogens, viruses are the most destructive biotic agents in capsicum in particular (7, 8). At present, 68 virus species have been reported in capsicum. Among these, 45 species belonging to eight genera, viz., Alfamovirus, Begomovirus, Cucumovirus, Potyvirus, Polerovirus, Potexvirus, Tobamovirus, and Tospovirus, cause considerable economic loss in capsicum production worldwide (7). Among all, tobamoviruses (family Virgaviridae) cause severe losses to the crop and are one of the most studied plant viruses (7, 9).

In capsicum, tobamoviruses are one of the most damaging viruses, particularly in protected cultivation. Tobacco mosaic virus (TMV), pepper mild mottle virus (PMMoV), tomato mosaic virus (ToMV), tobacco mild green mosaic virus (TMGMV), bell pepper mottle virus (BPeMV), paprika mild mottle virus (PaMMV), and Obuda pepper virus (OBPV) are the most widespread tobamoviruses infecting capsicum worldwide (7). PMMoV was initially recognized in the United States as a latent strain of TMV and named as South Carolina mild mottling strain of TMV. It causes mottling in pepper plants but is not capable of inducing systemic infection in tomato (10). However, in 1984, PMMoV was identified as a distinct virus from TMV (11). PMMoV imposes a global threat to capsicum production as its incidence can reach as high as 95%, resulting in yield losses of 75% to 95% (12–15).

PMMoV causes mild to severe symptoms in infected plants, including leaf mosaic, distortion, and stunting, in addition to fruit deformities and reduced yields. The extent of losses depends on the crop stage at which plants become infected. Farmers and researchers face a significant challenge in controlling the spread of PMMoV due to the virus’s ability to form highly stable viral particles. These particles can persist and remain infectious in a variety of environments, including irrigation and natural water sources, soil, compost, and plant debris (16–18). This makes it difficult to eliminate the virus and prevent its transmission among crops. To develop effective management strategies, a thorough understanding of PMMoV, its geographical occurrence, diversity, and existent sources of host resistance are prerequisites.

The focus of our current review revolves around PMMoV, which is accountable for inflicting significant economic losses for capsicum cultivators worldwide (15, 19). The current review provides a comprehensive analysis of the PMMoV pathogen, encompassing its geographical spread, its pathogenic and genomic organization, its variation among isolates, management strategies, genetic resources currently available for future breeding endeavors, and novel strategies for PMMoV management.

PMMoV was reported as a distinct virus for the first time in Sicily, Italy (11). Since then, the virus has been reported in different countries where capsicum is widely cultivated, indicating its worldwide occurrence (11, 20–31) ( Figure 1 ). The virus is highly stable and remains infective even in irrigation/river/seawater, soil, compost, plant debris, etc. (16, 17). In India, PMMoV was first time reported in Himachal Pradesh in capsicum plants grown under protected cultivation (27). In addition to Himachal Pradesh, PMMoV has also been reported in Maharashtra, Karnataka, and Northeast India (32–34).

The disease symptoms on capsicum appear mostly on the leaves and fruits (35). The symptoms caused by PMMoV on pepper plants are mild leaf chlorosis and noticeable growth reduction in case of natural infection, which subsequently result in deformed, mottled leaves with chlorotic appearance (36). Stunting is very severe in plants infected at early growth stages (37) ( Figures 2A–C ), with young infected plants exhibiting more pronounced symptoms than those infected at later stages (38). The symptoms on fruits include distortion, such as a lumpy appearance, and reduced fruit size (39). Other symptoms caused by PMMoV include mosaic on leaves and fruits, mottling, puckering of leaves, vein thickening, stunting, leaf upward cupping, and fruit deformations ( Figure 2 ) (14, 19, 20, 40). Fruits infected with the virus are reduced in size and show mottling, changes in color, and necrosis, which ultimately result in significant yield losses in both the greenhouse and the field (19) ( Figures 2D–F ). The fruits infected with PMMoV have significantly lower total antioxidant status (TAS) levels and vitamin C levels, though their levels of total oxidant status (TOS), total phenol (TP), free phenol (FP), and conjugated phenol are higher than those of healthy fruits (41). At times, plants infected with PMMoV demonstrate very mild symptoms that can easily be overlooked (14).

The magnitude of yield losses due to PMMoV varies depending on the stage of crop infection. On an average, PMMoV can result in 15%–40% losses in capsicum fruit yield (42). In cases where the incidence of PMMoV reaches up to 80%, significant losses ranging from 50% to 100% have been reported (13, 43). In Himachal Pradesh, India, where the crop is largely grown under protected cultivation, the pathogen may result in 100% disease incidence, which causes yield losses of up to 90%. Yield reduction of up to 86.51% is observed in plants raised from infected seeds (44). Furthermore, plants infected at the 3–4 leaf stage exhibit a yield reduction of 78.38%, whereas those infected at the initiation of flowering and fruiting exhibit yield reductions of 65.35% and 40.33%, respectively (44).

Although the Capsicum spp. are the main host of PMMoV, the virus may infect approximately another 24 plant species belonging to the family Solanaceae (tobacco, eggplant) and also other species in the Cucurbitaceae, Labiatae, Chenopodiaceae, and Plantaginaceae families (11). Capsicum annuum (bell pepper), Capsicum baccatum (pepper), and Capsicum frutescens (chili) are reported to be major hosts of the virus (45, 46). The Nicotiana species (N. glutinosa, N. clevelandii, N. benthamiana, N. occidentalis, and N. tabacum), Chenopodium amaranticolor, and Datura stramonium are local lesion hosts of PMMoV. In addition to these species, PMMoV has also been detected in Dracaena braunii, Paris polyphylla var. yunnanensis, Physalis angulata (cut leaf ground cherry), Achyranthes aspera, Trachelospermum asiaticum, Rorippa palustris, Hydrangea macrophylla, and Leonurus sibiricus (47–50). Until 2009, tomato was considered to be a non-host for PMMoV (51); however, recent studies from the USA and China have shown that it may infect tomato plants naturally (48, 52).

PMMoV transmits by means of seeds, soil, and contact (53). Similar to other tobamoviruses, insect transmission is not observed in the case of PMMoV. The mechanical transmission of PMMoV occurs through contact, and standard agricultural practices such as pinching and pruning that entail equipment usage can exacerbate its dissemination. Since PMMoV can be transmitted through contaminated seeds and virus-infected soils, it has the potential to spread during the planting process. Many studies have reported on the seed-borne nature of PMMoV (10, 54–56). PMMoV resides on the outer coat of seeds but is very rarely found in the embryo and endosperm, which means that its transmission occurs non-embryonically (57). The virus transmits via seed coats to seedlings during transplanting, or during other cultural operations during by mechanical contamination. Abrasions or wounds on the seeds and plant parts during transplanting open the door for viral entry into the host. This serves as a primary infection source. A seed tobamoviruses transmission rate of between 0% and 65.3% was reported for the Capsicum species (10, 40, 54, 56, 58). In contrast to the high rate of seed transmission observed by other researchers, an average seed transmission rate of 10%–30% was recorded for the ‘California Wonder’, ‘Marconi’, ‘Yolo Wonder’, and ‘Anaheim’ pepper varieties (59). In our experiment, average seed transmission rates of 55.56%, 40.64%, and 28.96% were recorded for ‘California Wonder’, ‘Doux des Landes’, and ‘Yolo Wonder’, respectively, using a direct RT-PCR assay of their seeds (56). The rate of seed transmission decreased with an increase in seed storage duration at room temperature (40, 58, 60). Even a very low proportion of infected seeds can cause an epidemic in a field or polyhouse (56). PMMoV absorbed by the soil, plant debris (leaves, stems, and roots), greenhouse structures, humus, and working tools can remain stable for extended periods, serving as an inoculum (12, 61).

Belonging to the genus Tobamovirus, the PMMoV genome comprises a positive-sense single-stranded RNA (+ve ssRNA) that encodes four open reading frames (ORFs) corresponding to four proteins (62) ( Figure 3 ). The first ORF that begins from the 70th position and terminates with an amber codon at nucleotide 3423 encodes a 126-kDa protein. Associated with replication, the 126-kDa protein comprises a methyltransferase, an intervening region, and helicase-like domains (63). It appears that the replication protein of tobamoviruses, including PMMoV, possesses a dual role, serving as both a viral replication factor and an RNA-silencing suppressor (64). The second ORF starts at the same position (i.e., the 70th base) and through an amber codon behavior terminates at nucleotide 4908 encodes a 183-kDa protein. In addition to methyltransferase, the second ORF is an intervening region and helicase-like domains, encoding an additional RNA polymerase domain (62).

The third ORF (4909–5682 nt position) encodes a 28-kDa protein that is responsible for the cell-to-cell movement of the virus (65). The fourth (5685 to 6158 nt position) encodes a 17-kDa capsid/coat protein (65). The role of PMMoV coat protein (CP) as an elicitor in breaking L-mediated resistance has been much highlighted. A single amino acid mutation in CP can result in symptom variation and varied sub-cellular localization of PMMoV in host plants (66). The 5′ upstream and 3′ downstream of PMMoV genome, sequenced using rapid amplification of cDNA ends-polymerase chain reaction (RACE-PCR), showed that the region upstream to first ORF, i.e., 5′ UTR, consists of 69 nucleotides (1–69 nt), whereas the region downstream to fourth ORF, i.e., 3′ UTR, comprises 199 nucleotides (6159–6356 nt) (14, 65). The 5′ leader sequence consists of a 69-nucleotide-long region that is guanosine free and differs from the corresponding genomic region of TMV and ToMV. The 3′ non-coding region of the PMMoV genome is 199 nucleotides long, with a potential secondary structure similar to other tobamoviruses (67–70). The 3′ non-coding region (NCR) has two subregions: one comprises 3–5 consecutive pseudoknots followed by another subregion spanning the last 106 nucleotides; this forms the tRNA-like structure which can be charged with histidine (67, 69). This tRNA-like structure is likely to functionally substitute for the poly(A)-rich region (71). The nucleotide sequence of the 5′ and 3′ non-coding regions of PMMoV was first determined in 1989 (70). Two years later the first entire genomic RNA of Spanish isolate of PMMoV (PMMoV-S) was determined (72). PMMoV-S was classified as a resistance-breaking isolate because of its ability to infect pepper plants that are typically resistant to TMV and ToMV (72). Currently, there are about 50 full genome sequences of PMMoV isolated from Capsicum spp., Nicotiana spp., and other grass hosts available in the NCBI database ( Table 1 ). From India, four full genomes (MN496154, MN734123, MN496153, and KJ631123) are available in the NCBI database. The first complete nucleotide sequence of isolate PMMoV-HP1 collected from Himachal Pradesh was determined in 2015 (14). Based on a pairwise homology index deduced from CLUSTALW software, it was observed that the Indian isolate PMMoV-HP1 is almost identical (i.e., with more than 99% similarity) to isolates from Japan (AB000709), Spain (NC_003630), China (MG515725), Venezuela (KU312319), and Slovenia (MN267898). However, PMMoV-HP1 is least identical to isolates from the Netherlands (MT385868) followed by those from Germany (OP357934), with 89.11% and 93.93% similarity, respectively ( Supplementary Table 1 ).

Various techniques have been employed for the identification and detection of PMMoV utilizing serological, molecular, and high-throughput sequencing (HTS) methods. The identification of PMMoV predominantly entails the synergistic employment of electron microscopy, DAS-ELISA, and PCR (14, 75, 87). The timeline of diagnostic methods for PMMoV since 1984 is depicted in Figure 4 . Electron microscopy is the preeminent technique employed by virologists to ascertain the association of tobamoviruses with corresponding plant samples by means of visualizing rod-shaped rigid virion particles (11, 24, 87). DAS-ELISA, a widely employed serological assay for high-throughput screening, is frequently utilized to detect PMMoV infection in plant tissues, including seeds, and in soil (14, 38, 43, 56, 61, 79, 88). In addition to DAS-ELISA, the utilization of non-precoated indirect ELISA (Id-ELISA) has also proven valuable for the detection of PMMoV in infected soil (61, 89). Indirect ELISA allows for the simultaneous detection of multiple serologically related viruses using a single polyclonal antiserum. By employing Id-ELISA and DAS-ELISA prior to planting in the field, it becomes possible to assess the risk of PMMoV, facilitating effective risk management strategies (61, 90). In a few initial studies, tissue blot immunobinding assay (TBIA) and dot blot immunobinding assay (DBIA) using PMMoV-specific polyclonal antibodies were used for PMMoV detection in plant tissues (87, 91, 92). In a recent development, monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) were developed for PMMoV detection using hybridoma technology (93). Utilizing these MAbs, the triple antibody sandwich ELISA (TAS-ELISA) procedure was developed for PMMoV detection in plant sap, with sensitivity up to 1:5120 dilution (93).

RT-PCR and its variants are DNA-based diagnostic methods that have been used to detect PMMoV since 2000. These methods typically involve the use of primers targeting the coat protein (CP) or RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRp) gene (14, 94, 95). Two variants of PCR, namely immunocapture RT-PCR (IC-RT-PCR) and multiplex-PCR (m-PCR), have been developed for the detection of various economically important viruses, including PMMoV (93, 96). A novel single-tube multiplex IC-RT-PCR assay was developed, enabling the simultaneous detection of PMMoV and TMGMV (96). This assay demonstrated a significant advancement, with a 1,000-fold increase in sensitivity compared with ELISA, and also reduced time and cost requirements in comparison with traditional RT-PCR methods (96). A straightforward m-PCR method was developed to detect six different capsicum viruses, namely PMMoV, capsicum chlorosis orthotospovirus (CaCV), chili leaf curl virus (ChiLCV), chili veinal mottle virus (ChiVMV), cucumber mosaic virus (CMV), and large cardamom chirke virus (LCCV) (34). Real-time quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR) is being used for the detection and quantification of PMMoV from water, fecal, and plant samples (66, 97). Some of the PMMoV-specific primers which have been previously used for specific PMMoV detection, along with their target gene and amplification product size, are shown in Table 2 . In a recent investigation, 12 viruses and 2 viroids, including PMMoV, were identified in pepper using metatranscriptomics (86). Commercially available rapid immunological assays, such as ImmunoStrip^® (Agdia, USA), have emerged as convenient and efficient tools for detecting PMMoV in leaf tissue or seeds. These assays do not rely on laboratory facilities, making them field-applicable and highly accessible. Consequently, they are frequently employed by researchers for diagnosis purposes (100–102).

The tobamoviruses have pathotypes that are determined by their ability to infect Capsicum spp. possessing different alleles, namely L¹ , L² , L³ , and L⁴ at the L locus (103–105). Resistance corresponding to the pathotypes 0 (P₀), P₁, P₁₂ and P₁₂₃ is conferred by L¹-, L²-, L³-, and L⁴-resistant genes, respectively. The L¹ gene in capsicum cultivars ‘Bruinsma Wonder’ and ‘Verbeterde glas’ is capable of localization of P₀ strain of TMV. Similarly, the L² gene in C. frutescens cv. ‘Tabasco’ localize both P₀ and P₁ strains of TMV; L³ localizes the P₀, P₁, and P₁₂ of TMV strains in C. chinense PIs and the L⁴ gene is responsible for the localization of the P₀, P₁, P₁₂, and P₁₂₃ strains of TMV in C. chacoense accessions PI260429 and SA185 (103–105). The P₀ pathotype is incapable of infecting plants that contain the L¹ gene. The P₁ pathotype consists of viruses capable of infecting plants that carry the L¹ gene which are unable to infect Capsicum spp. plants possessing the L² gene. Similarly, the L² gene confers resistance to the P₁ pathotype, the L³ gene confers resistance to the P₀, P₁, and P₁₂ pathotypes, and the L⁴ gene confers resistance to the P₀, P₁, P₁₂, and P₁₂₃ pathotypes (106, 107). However, the P₁₂₃₄ pathotype is capable of overcoming the resistance conferred by the L⁴ gene. PMMoV has three pathotypes, viz., P₁₂, P₁₂₃, and P₁₂₃₄. As a consequence of the extensive cultivation of capsicum cultivars with the L⁴ gene that are resistant to the P₁₂₃ pathotype, the pathogen has adapted and exhibited L⁴ gene-mediated resistance-breaking abilities, which has resulted in the emergence of a pathotype, namely P₁₂₃₄ (108).

Different capsicum differential cultivars harboring different L alleles have been identified and are being used by researchers for PMMoV pathotype characterization (https://worldseed.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/Pepper_tobamo_virus_february2020final.pdf) (24, 30). C. annuum cvs. ‘Sivria-RY’/’Yolo wonder’, C. annuum cvs. ‘Sivria’/’Doux des Landes’, C. frutescense cv ‘Tabasco’, C. chinense line PI-159236, and C. chacoense line PI-260429 harbour L¹ , L⁺ , L² , L³ , and L⁴ , respectively. According to various reports, mutations occurring in the CP of PMMoV have been observed to be effective in overcoming the L-mediated resistance in pepper plants (82, 106–110). Most of the field isolates of PMMoV belong to the P₁₂ pathotype; however, others have reported the occurrence of PMMoV belonging to the P₁₂₃ and P₁₂₃₄ pathotypes infecting pepper under field conditions (82, 107–110). As suggested by different studies, it is likely that mutations occurring in the CP of PMMoV can trigger the breakdown of resistance conferred by the L³ and L⁴ genes, leading to the evolution of the P₁₂₃ and P₁₂₃₄ pathotypes (78).

A single amino acid mutation of asparagine to methionine at the 138th position (N138M) of the PMMoV-I isolate was sufficient to induce a hypersensitive response (HR) and localization of the virus in C. chinense plants with the L³ gene (106). This mutation (N138M) is observed in all PMMoV isolates characterized as P₁₂₃ pathotypes (18, 78, 106, 111). The mutations in PMMoV CP at the 7th position from alanine to serine (A7S), and the 81st position from serine to alanine (S81A) had L³ -mediated resistance-inducing and -breaking abilities, respectively (112). The synergistic effect of two mutations in CP at the 43rd position from threonine to lysine (T43K)—the 50th position from aspartic acid to glycine (D50G) in the case of isolate PMMoV-Ij (110)—and the 13th position from leucine to phenylalanine (L13F)—the 66th position from glycine to valine (G66V) in the case of PMMoV-Is (82)—has been shown to break L³ -mediated resistance. PMMoV CP mutants analysis containing one or both of these amino acid changes has shown that both mutations are responsible for efficiently inducing necrosis and hence overcoming L³ -mediated resistance (82). Two mutations at the 46th and 85th positions in PMMoV CP, of glutamine to arginine (Q46R) and glycine to lysine (G85K), are likely to be responsible for eliciting L⁴ -mediated resistance breaking (57). Two mutations were observed in the CP of PMMoV isolate, which were capable of overcoming L⁴ -mediated resistance at the 47th and 87th positions of leucine to glutamine (L47Q) and alanine to glycine (A87G), respectively (108).

The differentiation of PMMoV pathotypes is time consuming and often difficult. However, few attempts have been made in the direction of differential detection of PMMoV pathotypes. The antisera and RNA hybridization methods available for the detection of PMMoV are insufficient to resolve the pathotypes. Therefore, sequence analysis is of particular importance in resolving the pathotypes. For instance, EcoRI restriction digestion of 836 bp amplicons of PMMoV-S genome (P₁₂) and PMMoV-Ia (P₁₂₃) genome obtained using primer pair P12/3 and P12/3A revealed two fragments of 260 and 570 bp, respectively, from the genome of PMMoV-Ia, whereas only a single fragment was obtained for PMMoV-S (65). The available genomic data of PMMoV were mined for identifying the informative sites in PMMoV genome for its pathotype determination (18). The findings indicate that the nucleotide composition at positions 552, 565, 639, 666, 708, 5921, 5975, and 6002 can serve as a reliable marker for distinguishing three PMMoV pathotypes, viz., P₁₂, P₁₂₃, and P₁₂₃₄ (18). PMMoV isolates with TGGTC nucleotides at positions 565, 639, 708, 5975, and 6002 were all characterized as P₁₂, whereas those with the GATTT combination belonged to the P₁₂₃ pathotype. Isolates with GGTAC nucleotides at these positions can be identified as the P₁₂ pathotype if it has ACT or ACC nucleotide combination at additional informative positions, viz., 552, 666, and 5921, whereas isolates with GTA combinations belong to the P₁₂₃ pathotype. The pathotypes of 10 PMMoV sequences (nine full genome sequences and one partial genome sequence) were appropriately predicted using the given model (18).

Phytoviruses are widespread in fruits and vegetables worldwide. Tobamoviruses have an extensive host range, infecting over than 150 plant species, which include vegetables such as tomato, capsicum, turnip, and cucumber (113). Therefore, humans have been exposed to plant viruses for a long time (114). It is believed that plant viruses cannot infect humans as plant and animal viruses differ significantly in the mechanisms they employ to enter and propagate within their host cells. Animal viruses rely on specific interactions with host cell receptors for viral entry by endocytosis or fusion; on the other hand, phytoviruses enter plant cells via injuries caused by insects, infected seeds, agricultural practices, or by transmission directly into the phloem by whiteflies, nematodes, mites, or fungi, and this process does not involve specific molecular interactions. Subsequently, plant viruses propagate from cell to cell through plasmodesmata, which require a movement protein that is exclusively encoded by plant virus genomes. These critical differences have led to a paradigm that plant viruses are safe for human beings. This paradigm regarding the nature of phytoviruses, which has persisted for a long time, has recently been challenged by metagenomic studies of the human gut microbiome and human fecal samples (115–118). The metagenomics analysis of human feces to identify human enteric or other viruses has surprisingly discovered a large and diverse community of plant RNA viruses, predominated by PMMoV (115). It was hypothesized that capsicum-based food consumption could be the source of fecal-borne PMMoV. In a separate study, PMMoV was found in the stools of 7.2% of adult subjects (sample size: 304) and it was observed that PMMoV-positive people were more likely to experience fever and abdominal pain (119). In addition, the detection of anti-PMMoV IgM antibodies in PMMoV positive individuals indicates the non-neutral existence of PMMoV in human gut and their association with clinical symptoms such as fever, abdominal pains, and skin itching (119). This was the first evidence of association of any plant virus with such clinical symptoms. In a few other studies, PMMoV was detected in high abundance in the gut of children less than 1 year old in clinical samples of acute encephalitis/encephalopathy patients; however, further exhaustive investigations are required to confirm whether PMMoV has some pathogenic association with clinical symptoms in humans or is just a neutral member of the human gut microbiome (116–118).

It would not be inaccurate to assert that PMMoV exhibits a ubiquitous presence, as it has been identified in various mediums, including plant tissues such as leaves and seeds, soil, human fecal matter, and water (14, 56, 97, 119). The presence of PMMoV has been observed frequently in different types of water sources, ranging from surface water to drinking water, and streams that are dominated by wastewater effluent, indicating fecal contamination (97, 120–122). PMMoV is considered highly suitable as an indicator of fecal contamination in water sources because of its great abundance and persistence in environmental samples alongside human enteric viruses without any seasonal fluctuation (16, 123). PMMoV has been demonstrated to be effective for assessing water quality and monitoring the effectiveness of water reclamation plants. Due to its high concentration levels in wastewater (in contrast to other enteric viruses), it can be used to measure how much virus copy number is removed from wastewater through large-scale wastewater treatment facilities. This illustrates the potential of PMMoV, which is otherwise an agricultural menace, as an effective tool in water-quality assessment and monitoring water reclamation facilities (123). However, a more comprehensive investigation into PMMoV behavior in aquatic environments and its correlation with other viruses that pose public health risks is necessary to gain a better understanding of its effectiveness as an indicator of water quality (124).

Managing plant virus diseases is an exceptionally challenging task as recovery is nearly impossible once plants have been infected. Currently, PMMoV management options involve the integration of several approaches important for field sanitation: the use of healthy seeds and planting material; disinfection of hands, agricultural tools and implements to prevent mechanical transmission; timely detection and eradication of infected plants including main and other weed hosts; cultivation of disease resistant varieties; and improved cultural practices. In recent years research for eco-friendly control measures has also been accelerated.

Apart from a serious agricultural problem, PMMoV has great potential as a tool for monitoring water quality. PMMoV has been constantly detected from human feces and is a predominant member of the human gut microbiome. However, extensive investigations are required to confirm whether PMMoV causes any pathological disorders in humans or is just a passive bystander. In plants, managing viruses is a difficult task, especially when dealing with soil and seed-transmitted viral pathogens such as PMMoV. To manage PMMoV in the field, it is critical to develop sensitive and reliable methods for the differential detection of its pathotypes. Knowing the PMMoV pathotypes beforehand is crucial to selecting appropriate cultivars for cultivation to avoid exerting selection pressure on the virus population in the field. Consequently, prior diagnosis and preventing transmission through real-time and point-of-use (PoU) diagnostics which allows in situ rapid PMMoV detection from plants, seeds, and soil even by an untrained person is the most practical solution. The implementation and utilization of cutting-edge PoU diagnostic tools in the field of plant virology have been slower than their adoption in animal virology. In recent studies, isothermal amplification methods such as recombinase polymerase amplification (RPA) assay and loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) has emerged as a rapid, straightforward, highly sensitive, and cost-effective method for detecting DNA and RNA plant viruses. These methods can easily integrate with lateral flow immunoassay and thus be adapted for PoU detection. Such PoU diagnostic tools for PMMoV detection from plants, seed soil, and water are essential.

The utilization of host resistance is considered the most sustainable approach for managing plant virus diseases. It is vital to undertake the task of mapping the L³ and L⁴ genes and identify the genetic markers that are closely linked to them to expedite the molecular selection of capsicum germplasm with L³ and L⁴ genes through MAS. The PMMoV pathotypes P₁₂₃₄ can overcome the L⁴ gene, which is known to have the broadest resistance spectrum among all resistance alleles against tobamoviruses in capsicum germplasm. Therefore, apart from identifying the existing resistant sources, we must also direct our future research toward the use of modern genetic engineering tools for developing resistance against PMMoV. CRISPR (clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats)/CRISPR-associated (Cas) systems are very effective and convenient tools to edit endogenous and exogenous DNA or RNA sequences across a wide range of organisms. With the discovery of RNA targeting and editing CRISPR-associated proteins, the application of CRISPR-Cas systems has been expanded from DNA to RNA genomes. Generally, CRISPR/Cas technology can be utilized to either target or manipulate the viral genome which can inhibit the viral replication and infection cycle of the virus in its hosts, or it can be utilized to edit the host factors which are indispensable for completing the viral replication cycle in their host plants. After conducting an extensive search, we did not find any research studies focused on using CRISPR-Cas technology for the detection or management of PMMoV. The use of CRISPR technology for PMMoV management also requires a comprehensive understanding of PMMoV–capsicum interaction at the molecular level using a next-generation sequencing approach. It will provide baseline information for devising efficient, sustainable, and novel management strategies for PMMoV management. Nevertheless, the advancement of RNAi-based biopesticides is gaining momentum as a targeted and specific approach for plant virus management. Provided a suitable delivery mechanism, topically applied target virus-specific dsRNA can be deemed as a secure and efficacious approach in the management of PMMoV through RNA interference. However, CRISPR-Cas, an efficient genome editing tool, has many advantages over the RNAi-based management approach. CRISPR-Cas has been applied for generating resistance in plants against masterviruses, begomoviruses, caulimoviruses, cucumovirus, badnaviruses, potyviruses, etc. (195).

Nanotechnology has emerged as a promising approach to plant virus management. A number of studies have been published in the last decade investigating the antiviral role of engineered nanoparticles (NPs) and their application in plant virus management (196). Nanomaterials with inherent antiviral properties, such as metal nanoparticles or nanocomposites, have shown promise for plant virus management (197, 198). Another application of nanotechnology in plant virus management is in the area of virus detection (198, 199). Nanoparticles offer versatility in their applications and can be combined with various probes to detect viral nucleic acids or proteins, upon binding. In the realm of virus detection, nanoscale biosensors utilizing nanomaterials such as graphene oxide, silica, carbon nanotubes, quantum dots, gold, silver, zinc oxide, and magnetic nanoparticles have been developed to specifically target and identify human pathogenic viruses, and their application in plant virus detection is limited but expanding. Although nanotechnology shows great promise in phytoviruses management, there are notable challenges that can impede its implementation. It is crucial to allocate substantial efforts toward comprehending the mechanism of interaction between NPs and plant viruses so that sustainable management strategies with optimal efficacy can be designed.

NK, VS, and PS contributed to the conceptualization of the manuscript. NK, VS, and PP drafted the original manuscript. VS and NK created the figures. PS organized the funding acquisition. All authors contributed to the article and approved the submitted version.