Ability of Non-Hosts and Cucurbitaceous Weeds to Transmit Cucumber Green Mottle Mosaic Virus

• Published in: Viruses Vol. 15; no. 3; p. 683
• Main Authors: Lovelock, David A, Mintoff, Sharl J L, Kurz, Nadine, Neilsen, Merran, Patel, Shreya, Constable, Fiona E, Tran-Nguyen, Lucy T T
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Switzerland MDPI AG 01.03.2023; MDPI
• Subjects: Abelmoschus esculentus; Amaranth; Amaranthus viridis; Capsicum annuum; Citrullus; Crops; Cucumber green mottle mosaic virus; Cucumbers; Cucurbitaceae; Diagnosis; Diseases and pests; Economic importance; Genetic aspects; Inoculum; non-hosts; Physalis minima; Plant Diseases; Plant viruses; Portulaca oleracea; Seedlings; Seeds; Solanum nigrum; Sorghum; Tobamovirus; Virus diseases of plants; Viruses; Weed control; Weeds; Zea mays; Australia; non-hosts; Cucumber green mottle mosaic virus; weeds
• DOI: 10.3390/v15030683
• ISSN: 1999-4915

Cucumber green mottle mosaic virus (CGMMV) is a of economic importance affecting cucurbit crops and Asian cucurbit vegetables. Non-host crops of CGMMV, including capsicum ( ), sweetcorn ( ), and okra ( ), were tested for their susceptibility to the virus, with field and glasshouse trials undertaken. After 12 weeks post-sowing, the crops were tested for the presence of CGMMV, and in all cases, no CGMMV was detected. Commonly found within the growing regions of cucurbits and melons worldwide are weeds, such as black nightshade ( ), wild gooseberry ( ), pigweed ( ), and species. Several weeds/grasses were tested for their ability to become infected with CGMMV by inoculating weeds directly with CGMMV and routinely testing over a period of eight weeks. was found to be susceptible, with 50% of the weeds becoming infected with CGMMV. To further analyse this, six Amaranth samples were used as inoculum on four watermelon seedlings per sample and tested after eight weeks. CGMMV was detected in three of six watermelon bulk samples, indicating that is a potential host/reservoir for CGMMV. Further research into the relationship between CGMMV and weed hosts is required. This research also highlights the importance of proper weed management to effectively manage CGMMV.