Abstract
Field information about viruses infecting crops is fundamental for understanding the severity of the effects they cause in plants. To determine the status of cucurbit viruses, surveys were conducted for three consecutive years (2016–2018) in different agricultural districts of Oklahoma. A total of 1331 leaf samples from >90 fields were randomly collected from both symptomatic and asymptomatic cucurbit plants across 11 counties. All samples were tested with the dot-immunobinding assay (DIBA) against the antisera of 10 known viruses. Samples infected with papaya ringspot virus (PRSV-W), watermelon mosaic virus (WMV), zucchini yellow mosaic virus (ZYMV), and cucurbit aphid-borne-yellows virus (CABYV) were also tested by RT-PCR. Of the 10 viruses, PRSV-W was the most widespread, with an overall prevalence of 59.1%, present in all 11 counties, followed by ZYMV (27.6%), in 10 counties, and WMV (20.7%), in seven counties, while the remaining viruses were present sporadically with low incidence. Approximately 42% of the infected samples were positive, with more than one virus indicating a high proportion of mixed infections. CABYV was detected for the first time in Oklahoma, and the phylogenetic analysis of the first complete genome sequence of a CABYV isolate (BL-4) from the US showed a close relationship with Asian isolates.
Highlights
The members of the Cucurbitaceae, family, commonly referred to as cucurbits, are major cash crops in the United States (US) and worldwide
This study presented three years (2016–2018) of survey data for 10 important viruses infecting major cucurbit crops in Oklahoma
The survey results showed that viruses are common in cucurbits, and potyviruses are a major and continuous threat to cucurbit production in Oklahoma
Summary
The members of the Cucurbitaceae, family, commonly referred to as cucurbits, are major cash crops in the United States (US) and worldwide. The genus Cucumis (including cucumbers and melons), Citrullus (watermelons), and Cucurbita (pumpkin sand squashes) are popular. In the US, six cucurbits—cantaloupes (Cucumis melo), cucumbers (Cucumis sativus), honeydew (Cucumis melo), pumpkins, squashes (Cucurbita pepo, C. maxima, and C. moschata), and watermelons (Citrullus lanatus)—are among the top fifteen fresh vegetables. Viruses are responsible for causing nearly 50% of emerging diseases in plants [7], which reduce the production of almost all crops and vegetables including cucurbits. More than 59 viruses were reported to infect cucurbit crops in 2012 [8]; the number of viruses that could potentially infect cucurbits worldwide has increased to 96. Pathogens 2021, 10, 53 than 59 viruses were reported to infect cucurbit crops in 2012 [8]; the number of viruses that could potentially infect cucurbits worldwide has increased to 96 (T2aobf l2e0 S1). The sum of individual incidence is more than the total virus incidence due to mixed infections
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