A New Strain of Cucumber Mosaic Virus Causing Mosaic Disease of Muskmelon

Abstract

The virus causing mosaic of muskmelon in the Punjab is transmitted through seed, sap and aphids but not through beetle, whitefly, fungi or contact. It systemically infected Nicotiana tabacum (var. “White Burley” and CTRI‐Special), N. glutinosa, N. rustica and Capsicum annuum besides various cucurbit hosts when inoculated mechanically. The virus gave positive reaction with the antiserum of cucumber mosaic virus and the particles are spherical in shape. The virus has been identified as a distinct strain of cucumber mosaic virus and is designated as muskmelon strain of cucumber mosaic virus (CMV‐mst.).

Characteristics of Cucumber Mosaic Virus Isolates Infecting Cucurbits in Egypt

“…Sharma and Chohan (1974) reported that the rate of CMV seed infection in pumpkin was 0.7%. It was reported from India that CMV can be transmitted through melons seeds (Sharma et al, 1984). Tóbiás et al (2008) reported that from 225 seedborne virus infected plants of hulless oilseed pumpkin (Cucurbita pepo), a total of 166 had ZYMV (Zucchini yellow mosaic virus) and 59 had mixed infection of ZYMV and CMV as identified by ELISA test indicator plants and RT-PCR.…”