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Undiagnosed virus on muskmelon in Punjab, India

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A ProMED-mail post
ProMED-mail is a program of the International Society for Infectious Diseases

A ProMED-mail post
<http://www.promedmail.org>
ProMED-mail is a program of the
International Society for Infectious Diseases <http://www.isid.org>

Date: Wed 20 May 2008
Source: Topnews India, Asian News International (ANI) report [edited]
<http://www.topnews.in/farmers-face-heavy-losses-due-crop-damage-kapurthala-242818>

Farmers face heavy losses due to crop damage in Kapurthala

Farmers in Punjab's Kapurthala District are facing heavy losses as outbreak of viral disease has lead to large-scale damage of muskmelon crop. Kapurthala is one of the largest producers of muskmelons in the state.

The viral disease has led not only to stunted growth of the muskmelons, but also rotting them on the field itself. "I had cultivated muskmelons on an area of 4 acres (1.6 ha) and most of it has been destroyed due to the outbreak of a viral disease which has also hampered the growth of the melons and spoilt them," said Ranjeet Singh, a farmer.

The losses are so large that they have not been able to even recover their initial cost and now want the State Government to assist them financially. According to the experts, the farmers have faced estimated losses worth about INR 500 million [about USD 11.6 million] due to the damage to the muskmelon crop. "Thousands of hectares of area are under muskmelon cultivation in the region, out of which about 70-90 percent of the cultivation is lost. So, if we calculate roughly even at INR 25 000 [USD 581] loss per hectare, then according to the estimate, farmers in Kapurthala have faced a loss of roughly around 500 million rupees," said Manoj Sharma, agriculture expert.

Out of the damaged crop, the muskmelons that make it to the market have many less buyers, as people prefer to stay away from the muskmelons. The farmers are now ploughing their fields to root out the infested crops and prepare the field for a new crop other than muskmelons.

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Communicated by:
ProMED-mail
<promed@promedmail.org>

[More than 15 viruses are known to infect cucurbits, which include crops like cucumber, all the different kinds of melons, squash, and pumpkin. Many of the major viruses affecting these crops are transmitted by aphid species, and some are spread by different vectors or with seed. Losses occur through reduction in growth and yield, and the viruses are often also responsible for distortion and mottling of fruit, making the produce unmarketable.

A new strain of _Cucumber mosaic virus_ (CMV) has been reported previously to cause diseases of muskmelon in Punjab, India (Sharma et al. 1984, Phytopath. Z. 109, 332-340). _Zucchini yellow mosaic virus_ (ZYMV) has been reported from the neighbouring Punjab district in Pakistan on muskmelon and other cucurbits, with an incidence of about 15 percent (see ProMED-mail post no. 20050611.1624), and also on cucumber in other parts of India (see ProMED-mail post no. 20040731.2088). _Cucumber green mottle mosaic virus_ (CGMMV) was found to affect muskmelon in several parts of India (Raychaudhuri & Varma 1978, Phytopath. Z. 93, 120-5). It is not clear from the report above which virus may be causing the current outbreak. Furthermore, the current muskmelon crop in Punjab has also been affected by downy mildew (see recent ProMED-mail post no. 20080411.1322).

Maps
India:
<http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/india/images/IndiaMap_tourism.gif
and
<http://healthmap.org/promed?v=22.9,79.6,5>
Punjab districts:
<http://www.mapsofindia.com/maps/punjab/punjab-district.htm>

Pictures
Photo gallery of virus symptoms on cucurbits:
<http://vegetablemdonline.ppath.cornell.edu/PhotoPages/Cucurbit/CucViruses/CucVirPhotoList.htm>
ZYMV leaf curl on muskmelon:
<http://www.bspp.org.uk/ndr/july2005/2005-42-1.jpg>
Melon field affected by ZYMV:
<http://www.bspp.org.uk/ndr/july2005/2005-42-2.jpg>
 
Links
Alternative links for the story:
<http://www.newkerala.com/one.php?action=fullnews&id=62550> and
<http://www.thecheers.org/news/South-Asia/news_24306_Farmers-face-heavy-losses-due-to-crop-damage-in-Kapurthala.html>
Viruses of cucurbits, fact sheet with pictures:
<http://vegetablemdonline.ppath.cornell.edu/factsheets/Viruses_Cucurbits.htm>
List of viruses (and other pathogens) affecting cucurbits:
<http://www.apsnet.org/online/common/names/cucurbit.asp>
CMV on cucurbits and other hosts:
<http://www.extento.hawaii.edu/kbase/crop/type/cucvir.htm>
ZYMV Punjab, Pakistan:
<http://www.bspp.org.uk/ndr/july2005/2005-42.asp>
Descriptions and taxonomy of all ICTV-recognised viruses via:
<http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/ICTVdb/Ictv/index.htm>. - Mod.DHA]

[see also in the archive:
Downy mildew, cucurbits - India: (PU) 20080411.1322
2005
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Zucchini yellow mosaic, melon - Pakistan (Punjab) 20050611.1624
2004
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Yellow mosaic, cucumber- India: 1st report 20040731.2088]



 

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