March 20, 2006
From: ProMED-mail<promed@promedmail.org>
Source: European Plant Protection Organization (EPPO), Reporting Service, 2006/032 [edited]
<http://www.eppo.org/PUBLICATIONS/reporting/reporting_service.htm>

First report of Cucurbit yellow stunting disorder crinivirus and Cucumber vein yellowing ipomovirus in Cyprus

In Cyprus, a survey was done in 2000/2002 to determine the identity and prevalence of viruses of cucurbit crops. Cucurbits are major vegetable crops in Cyprus and are produced mainly in the coastal regions of Famagusta, Larnaca, Limmasol and Paphos districts. Cucurbits are mainly cultivated in open fields, but cucumbers are usually grown under plastic greenhouses. A total of 2993 samples of cucumber (_Cucumis sativus_), courgette (_Cucurbita pepo_), melon (_C. melo_) and watermelon (_Citrullus lanatus_) were collected from the major cucurbit-growing regions. Samples were tested by serological or molecular methods for the following viruses:
Beet pseudo-yellows crinivirus (BPYV), Cucumber mosaic cucumovirus (CMV), Cucumber vein yellowing ipomovirus (CVYV - EPPO Action List), Cucurbit aphid-borne yellows polerovirus (CABYV), Cucurbit yellow stunting disorder
crinivirus (CYSDV - EPPO Action List), Papaya ringspot potyvirus type W (PRSV-W), Squash mosaic comovirus (SqMV), Watermelon mosaic potyvirus (WMV), Zucchini yellow mosaic potyvirus (ZYMV). ZYMV was the most prevalent virus with an overall incidence of 45 percent. PRSV-W, CABYV and WMV were detected in 20.8 percent, 20.8 percent and 7.8 percent of the samples tested, respectively. CMV and SqMV were not detected during this survey. CYSDV was detected in 88 percent of the tested cucumber samples which had been collected from protected crops [greenhouse, screen house etc. - Mod.JAD] all over the country. It is noted that CYSDV was also found in 12 samples of melon grown in the field. The presence of CYSDV was associated with high populations of its vector _Bemisia tabaci_. CVYV was detected in protected crops of cucumbers but with a low incidence (9.5 percent). The EPPO Secretariat had previously no data on the occurrence of CYSDV and CVYV in Cyprus. The situation of Cucurbit yellow stunting disorder crinivirus in Cyprus can be described as follows: Present, 1st found in 2000, widespread in protected crops of cucumbers. The situation of Cucumber vein yellowing ipomovirus in Cyprus can be described as follows: Present, 1st found in 2000 with a low incidence.

Source: Papayiannis LC, Ioannou N, Boubourakas IN, Dovas CI, Katis NI, Falk BW (2005) Incidence of viruses infecting cucurbits in Cyprus. Journal of Phytopathology 153(9), 530-535.

--
ProMED-mail
<promed@promedmail.org>

[Cucurbit vegetable crop plants such as cucumber (_Cucumis sativus_), courgette or squash (_Cucurbita pepo_), melon (_C. melo_) and watermelon (_Citrullus lanatus_) are susceptible to several different plant viruses, as this survey in Cyprus demonstrates. Among the viruses detected, 2 are noteworthy to the EPPO -- Cucurbit yellow stunting disorder virus (CYSDV) (family: _Closteroviridae_, genus: _Crinivirus_) and Cucumber vein
yellowing virus (CVYV) (family: _Potyviridae_, genus _Ipomovirus_) -- because they are 1st reports for Cyprus.

Both viruses are transmitted by the whitefly _Bemesia tabaci_ and will spread internally in any area where the virus is introduced on vegetatively-propagated plants. Both are on the EPPO A2 action list. Note that the samples for this report were collected in 2000 to 2002, making the results contemporary with other earlier reports for Europe to be found in the ProMED archive. At present, CYSDV has been detected and causes problems in France, Spain, Portugal, Morocco, the Arab Emirates and North America. In Spain, the yellowing symptoms caused by CYSDV are frequently observed in 100 percent of the plants when they are found in an affected greenhouse or screenhouse. CVYV is well established in Israel, Jordan, Turkey, Spain and Portugal. Symptoms in both cucumber and melon have been described as vein yellowing, vein clearing and stunting, with a corresponding yield reduction. Sudden death, an uncommon outcome for plant virus disease, was observed on melon in Spain. Avoiding infected propagation plants, management of whiteflies and weed reservoirs are the main ways to manage disease problems. Attempts to select or engineer useful tolerant or resistant varieties are being made.

Map, Cyprus
<http://worldatlas.com/webimage/countrys/europe/cy.htm>

CYSDV distribution
<http://www.eppo.org/QUARANTINE/virus/Cucurbit_yellow_stunting_disorder/CYSDV0_map.htm>

CVYV distribution
<http://www.eppo.org/QUARANTINE/virus/Cucumber_vein_yellowing_virus/CVYV00_map.htm>

Pictures, CVYV
<http://www.eppo.org/QUARANTINE/virus/Cucumber_vein_yellowing_virus/CVYV00_images.htm>
<http://www.whitefly.org/Resources/News/absolutenm/articlefiles/3-P-A1-07-DJANSEEN02m.JPG>

Links:
<http://www.eppo.org/QUARANTINE/action_list.htm>
<http://www.eppo.org/QUARANTINE/virus/Cucurbit_yellow_stunting_disorder/DSCYSDV0.pdf>
<http://www.eppo.org/QUARANTINE/virus/Cucumber_vein_yellowing_virus/DSCVYV00.pdf>
<http://www.ars.usda.gov/research/projects/projects.htm?ACCN_NO=406833&showpars=true&fy=2005>
- Mod.JAD]

[see also in the archive:
2004
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Cucumber vein yellowing virus, cucurbits - Portugal 20040120.0229
2003
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Cucurbit yellow stunting disorder - France 20030524.1276
2002
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Cucumber vein yellowing virus, cucurbits - Spain 20020111.3226
2001
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Cucurbit yellow stunting dis. crinivirus - Portugal 20010529.1040
2000
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Cucurbit stunting virus - Morocco: EPPO report 20001130.2090
Cucurbit yellow stunting dis. virus - North America 20000624.1034]