Field surveys were conducted to determine the distribution and frequency of viruses infecting watermelon and other cucurbits in the southern US in 2010 and 2011. Leaf samples were collected from 715 symptomatic plants from 10 states and were tested by dot-immunobinding assays or reverse transcriptionpolymerase chain reaction for 17 viruses that included Alfalfa mosaic virus (AMV), Bean pod mottle virus (BPMV), Cucurbit aphid born yellows virus (CABYV), Cucurbit yellow stunting disorder virus (CYSDV), Cucumber green mottle mosaic virus (CGMMV), Cucumber mosaic virus (CMV), Melon necrotic spot virus (MNSV), Papaya ringspot virus-W (PRSV-W), Squash leaf curl virus (SLCuV), Soybean mosaic virus (SMV), Squash mosaic virus (SqMV), Squash vein yellowing virus (SqVYV), Tobacco ringspot virus (TRSV), Watermelon mosaic virus (WMV), Watermelon silver mottle virus (WSMoV), Zucchini yellow mosaic virus (ZYMV), and Zucchini green mottle mosaic virus (ZGMMV). Thirteen out of 17 viruses were detected in this study. The distribution of detected viruses varied with the highest average frequency for WMV (30.6%), followed by PRSV-W (24.7%), ZYMV (13.9%), TRSV (5.7%), SqMV (3.5%), and MNSV (2.6%). The percent frequency of the remaining viruses was less than 2%. Seven viruses (AMV, BPMV, CMV, SqMV, TRSV, PRSV-W, and ZYMV) were also detected either from nearby agricultural crops or weeds species. Mixed infections were also recorded for some viruses with potyviruses being the most common. There is limited information on frequency and distribution of viruses that occur on watermelon and other cucurbits. These results indicate that potyviruses, particularly PRSV-W, WMV, and ZYMV, are frequently present in infected watermelon and other cucurbits in the southern US. Accepted for publication 30 July 2012. Published 24 August 2012.
The chemical interaction between plants, which is referred to as allelopathy, may result in the inhibition of plant growth and development. The objective of this research was to determine the impact of kenaf (Hibiscus cannabinus L.) plant extracts on the seed germination of five plant species. Four concentrations (0, 16.7, 33.3 and 66.7 g/L) of kenaf leaf, bark, and core extracts were applied to the germination medium of redroot pigweed (Amaranthus retroflexus L.), green bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.), tomato (Solanum lycopersicum Mill.), cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.), and Italian ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum Lam.) seeds. The treated seeds were placed in a non-illuminated incubator at 27 o C. Germination was recorded after 7 days in the incubator. Seed germination decreased with increasing extract concentration for all the plant species tested, except for green bean. Tomato, cucumber, Italian ryegrass, and redroot pigweed followed similar trends in their responses to the extract source (kenaf bark, core, and leaves) and the impact of extract concentration. The research demonstrated that kenaf leaf extracts were allelopathic by reducing seed germination for tomato, cucumber, Italian ryegrass and redroot pigweed. Sensitivity to the allelopathic impact of the kenaf leaf extracts from highest to lowest was Italian ryegrass > tomato > redroot pigweed > cucumber > green bean, with reductions in percentage germination of 79% (Italian ryegrass), 78% (tomato), 53% (redroot pigweed), 40% (cucumber), and 0% (green bean). Future research should pursue cultural practices to utilize these natural allelopathic materials to benefit crop production and limit weed competition, assess the impact of kenaf extracts on post-germination growth, and isolate the active ingredients in the kenaf leaf extracts that are allelopathic.
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