Zucchini yellow mosaic virus
Encyclopedia
Zucchini Yellow Mosaic Virus (ZYMV) is an aphid
-borne potyvirus
, regarded as a major pathogen of cucurbit
s in most regions of the world where these crops are cultivated.
ZYMV affects all cucurbits including pumpkins, squash
es, vegetable marrows, courgettes, melon
s, watermelons, cucumbers, gherkins and various gourds especially zucchini
s. The effects are severe leaf mosaic, yellowing and eventually "shoestring" symptoms in the leaves. The fruits are stunted, twisted and deformed by raised protuberances, which make them unmarketable. In cultivated crops plants cease producing marketable fruits within 1–2 weeks of infection and serious financial losses can occur, particularly in courgette and marrow crops.
vectors. A form of "inoculation" or cross protection may also be used where seedlings are inoculated with a non-virulent strain of the virus (ZYMV-WK); this prevents infection with the severe strain. and so on.
A biotech yellow crookneck squash has been developed to resist zucchini yellow mosaic virus (and watermelon mosaic virus/WMV). This contains the coat protein genes of the viruses. In 2009, relatively small amounts of this were grown commercially in the US.
Aphid
Aphids, also known as plant lice and in Britain and the Commonwealth as greenflies, blackflies or whiteflies, are small sap sucking insects, and members of the superfamily Aphidoidea. Aphids are among the most destructive insect pests on cultivated plants in temperate regions...
-borne potyvirus
Potyvirus
Potyviruses infect plants and belong to the family Potyviridae. The genus is named after the type virus - Potato Virus Y.The Potyvirus, like the Begomoviruses, have ~30% of the currently known plant viruses and have at least 180 definitive and possible members...
, regarded as a major pathogen of cucurbit
Cucurbitaceae
The plant family Cucurbitaceae consists of various squashes, melons, and gourds, including crops such as cucumber, pumpkins, luffas, and watermelons...
s in most regions of the world where these crops are cultivated.
ZYMV affects all cucurbits including pumpkins, squash
Squash (fruit)
Squashes generally refer to four species of the genus Cucurbita, also called marrows depending on variety or the nationality of the speaker...
es, vegetable marrows, courgettes, melon
Melon
thumb|200px|Various types of melonsThis list of melons includes members of the plant family Cucurbitaceae with edible, fleshy fruit e.g. gourds or cucurbits. The word "melon" can refer to either the plant or specifically to the fruit...
s, watermelons, cucumbers, gherkins and various gourds especially zucchini
Zucchini
The zucchini is a summer squash which often grows to nearly a meter in length, but which is usually harvested at half that size or less. It is a hybrid of the cucumber. Along with certain other squashes, it belongs to the species Cucurbita pepo. Zucchini can be dark or light green...
s. The effects are severe leaf mosaic, yellowing and eventually "shoestring" symptoms in the leaves. The fruits are stunted, twisted and deformed by raised protuberances, which make them unmarketable. In cultivated crops plants cease producing marketable fruits within 1–2 weeks of infection and serious financial losses can occur, particularly in courgette and marrow crops.
Control
The disease may be introduced in infected seed, so sourcing clean seed can help prevent the disease. Control is largely dependent on using insecticides to control the aphidAphid
Aphids, also known as plant lice and in Britain and the Commonwealth as greenflies, blackflies or whiteflies, are small sap sucking insects, and members of the superfamily Aphidoidea. Aphids are among the most destructive insect pests on cultivated plants in temperate regions...
vectors. A form of "inoculation" or cross protection may also be used where seedlings are inoculated with a non-virulent strain of the virus (ZYMV-WK); this prevents infection with the severe strain. and so on.
A biotech yellow crookneck squash has been developed to resist zucchini yellow mosaic virus (and watermelon mosaic virus/WMV). This contains the coat protein genes of the viruses. In 2009, relatively small amounts of this were grown commercially in the US.