pepper golden mosaic virus pepper golden mosaic virus pepper golden mosaic virus is a plant pathogenic virus of the family geminiviridae. it affects capsicum annuum and all tomatoes. it was first discovered in texas in 1987, and was called texas pepper virus, and a two years later in mexico after it destroyed up to 100% of plants in afflicted fields in the autumn of 1989, mainly in north-west mexico. pepper golden mosaic virus virus classification (unranked): virus realm: monodnaviria kingdom: shotokuvirae phylum: cressdnaviricota class: repensiviricetes order: geplafuvirales family: geminiviridae genus: begomovirus species: pepper golden mosaic virus synonyms serrano golden mosaic virus texas pepper virus