ملخص
This study aimed to evaluate the impact of three imported pepper cultivars—two of which (555 and 806) are newly introduced to Libya—alongside the previously tested American cultivar Starter, in relation to viral infections. Using ELISA testing on 27 samples inoculated via mechanical transmission from wild tobacco ( Nicotiana glauca), Potato Virus Y (poly strain, PVY-POLY) was detected in 12 samples: 2 from cultivar 555 and 10 from wild tobacco, with an overall infection rate of 44.44%. Morphological and physiological measurements (plant height, flower count, chlorophyll content) revealed significant differences between infected and control plants, indicating the virus’s impact on growth and productivity. This research forms part of a broader survey of pepper-infecting viruses in Libya, with ongoing analysis