Incidence of Viruses Infecting Cucurbits in Cyprus

In a survey during 2000–2002 to determine the identity and prevalence of viruses affecting cucurbit crops in Cyprus, 2993 samples of cucumber, zucchini, melon and watermelon were collected from the five major cucurbit-growing areas in Cyprus. Zucchini yellow mosaic virus (ZYMV), Papaya ringspot virus type W (PRSV-W), Watermelon mosaic virus (WMV), Cucurbit aphid-borne yellows virus (CABYV), Cucumber mosaic virus (CMV) and Squash mosaic virus (SqMV) were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), and Cucurbit yellow stunting disorder virus (CYSDV), Beet pseudo-yellows virus (BPYV) and Cucumber vein yellowing virus (CVYV) by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT–PCR). ZYMV was the most prevalent virus of cucurbits in Cyprus with an overall incidence of 45%. PRSV-W, CABYV and WMV were detected in 20.8%, 20.8% and 7.8% of the samples tested, respectively. CYSDV was detected in most greenhouse cucumber samples with yellowing symptoms (88.1%), whereas BPYV and CVYV were found in only 2.4% and 9.5%, respectively, of samples. CMV and SqMV were not detected in any cucurbitaceous crop during this survey.