First report of Parietaria mottle virus in Mirabilis jalapa

Plants of Mirabilis jalapa (family Nyctaginaceae) with violet and yellow flowers, growing in a private garden in southern Italy, were found to host Parietaria mottle virus (PMoV) (genus Ilarvirus). Infected plants showed mild mosaic, leaf malformations of the upper leaves and necrotic lines pattern in some of the basal leaves. Preliminary electron microscope observations showed the presence of spherical virus particles in the sap from infected plants. No other virus-like particles were observed.