Identification and Characterization of a Novel Whitefly-Transmitted Member of the Family Potyviridae Isolated from Cucurbits in Florida

• DOI: 10.1094/phyto-97-2-0145
• Publication Date: 2007-05-11T11:37:17Z
• Authors: Scott Adkins; Susan E. Webb; Diann Achor; Pamela D. Roberts; Carlye A. Baker
• Keywords: Potyviridae; Cucurbita pepo; Whitefly; Squash; Cucurbitaceae; Myzus persicae; Chlorosis

ABSTRACT A novel whitefly-transmitted member of the family Potyviridae was isolated from a squash plant (Cucurbita pepo) with vein yellowing symptoms in Florida. The virus, for which name Squash virus (SqVYV) is proposed, has flexuous rod-shaped particles approximately 840 nm length. experimental host range limited to species Cucurbitaceae, most dramatic observed and watermelon, but excluded all tested families Amaranthaceae, Apocynaceae, Asteraceae, Chenopodiaceae, Fabaceae, Malvaceae, Solanaceae. transmitted by whiteflies (Bemisia tabaci) not aphids (Myzus persicae). Infection SqVYV induced inclusion bodies visible electron light microscopy that were characteristic members Potyviridae. Comparison coat protein gene sequences those recognized indicate it genus Ipomovirus. survey revealed also present watermelon plants suffering vine decline fruit rot recently Florida sufficient induce these greenhouse-grown suggesting likely cause this disease.