<p>Viral disease is one of the main diseases in black pepper plants (<i>Piper nigrum</i>), which can reduce plant yields.The leaves of black pepper plants can show a variety of symptoms when infected with the piper yellow mottle virus (PYMoV). To understand the symptomless nature of the endogenous pararetrovirus (EPRV) PYMoV in plants, we carried out studies to investigate the endogenous and episomal forms in three varieties of black pepper plants, i.e. Natar, Petaling and Ciinten, in West Java, Bangka and Lampung. An endogenous PYMoV was detected by PCR, while an episomal form was detected using RT-PCR. Based on the results, several variations of disease symptoms on leaves were observed, including mottle, mosaic, malformation and vein banding. Plants with severe infections exhibited symptoms of stunting. The endogenous PYMoV was detected in all symptomatic samples, plant varieties and locations, whereas episomal PYMoV was found in only a few symptomatic plants. Both forms of PYMoV were also detected in single symptomatic and asymptomatic black pepper plants. In conclusion, this study provides the first molecular evidence for the existence of endogenous and episomal forms of PYMoV in single asymptomatic black pepper plants.</p>