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ARS Home » Southeast Area » Fort Pierce, Florida » U.S. Horticultural Research Laboratory » Subtropical Plant Pathology Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #200453
Title: Whitefly (Bemisia tabaci) transmitted Squash vein yellowing virus (SqVYV): a component of Watermelon Vine Decline in South Florida.

Author
item ROBERTS, P.D. - UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA
item STANSLY, PHILIP - UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA
item Adkins, Scott
item WEBB, SUSAN - UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA
item BAKER, CARLYE - FL. DEPT OF AGRICULTURE
item Bruton, Benny
item MUCHOVEJ, ROSA - UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA
item ACHOR, DIANN - UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA
item Kousik, Chandrasekar - Shaker
item WHIDDEN, ALICIA - UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA
item MCAVOY, GENE - UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA
item GILREATH, PHYLLIS - UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA

Submitted to: Bemisia International Workshop Proceedings
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 9/14/2006
Publication Date: 12/1/2006
Citation: Roberts, P., Stansly, P.A., Adkins, S.T., Webb, S., Baker, C., Bruton, B.D., Muchovej, R., Achor, D., Kousik, C.S., Whidden, A.L., Mcavoy, G., Gilreath, P. 2006. Whitefly (Bemisia tabaci) transmitted Squash vein yellowing virus (SqVYV): a component of Watermelon Vine Decline in South Florida.. Bemisia International Workshop Proceedings. p. 72-73.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Watermelon production has been greatly impacted in South Florida since 2003 when symptoms were first observed of a severe watermelon vine decline (WVD) that killed plants as the crop approached first harvest (Roberts et. al., 2005; Huber 2006). Since 2003, watermelon plants have been affected in each fall (September-December) and spring (January-May) season. Symptoms of WVD occur as fruit are approaching harvest or soon thereafter. Foliage initially turns a slight yellow, then scorched and brown, followed by wilting and collapse of the entire vine. The xylem exhibits a uniform dark tan to light brown discoloration which is distinct from the discoloration of the xylem caused by races of Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. niveum. Although there are no external symptoms, the fruit on the declining vines frequently have rinds with greasy and discolored (brown and/or watersoaked) internal blotches. The non-macerated flesh is distinctly off-flavor, inedible, and non-marketable. However, symptoms of WVD are variable in that foliage decline symptoms can occur in the absence of fruit rot symptoms and vice-versa. Disease progress is normally very rapid although variations in the rate have also been observed. In some fields, vine decline increased from 10% affected plants to greater than 80% within a week. In other fields, the disease progressed through the yellowing, wilting phase and then stopped. Yield losses have been typically high; losses of 50%-100% are not uncommon in affected fields. The disease has occurred at epidemic levels in southwest and south central Florida since 2003 and poses a significant threat to production of this economically important crop. Losses to Florida growers are estimated at more than $60 million in the past four years (Huber, 2006). Abiotic and biotic causes of WVD were examined. Nutritional testing indicated soil and plant tissue nutritional deficiencies in most samples collected from affected fields. However, results varied from site to site, indicating that deficiencies may only have contributed to weakening the plants, thus increasing their susceptibility to disease. Examination of cultural practices did not uncover common links to fungicides, insecticides, herbicides, irrigation, cultivars, transplant production, fumigation, or other practices. Likewise, environmental conditions (rainfall, temperature) were variable from season to season, and while it does not appear that there is an environmental cause of this disease, the environment may play a role in WVD. Several fungi and bacteria have been recovered from affected vines and fruit which caused mortality of watermelon seedlings and decay of fruits in controlled environmental studies. Plectosporium tabacinum was frequently isolated from the xylem of affected plants that caused a seedling disease under greenhouse conditions. Several Fusarium, Pythium, Phytophthora, and Rhizoctonia spp. have been recovered but none of these were consistently isolated from symptomatic plants. Although race 0, 1, and 2 of Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. niveum were often isolated from symptomatic plants, symptoms of WVD are distinct from Fusarium wilt. Strains of Serratia and Pseudomonas spp. and an unidentified bacterial strain caused tissue maceration, necrosis, or brown blotches on fruit rind similar to field symptoms. However, neither fungal nor bacterial pathogens appeared to be the primary cause of WVD, but the role of these and other factors continue to be investigated. Recent research by Adkins and colleagues (2006) identified a novel ipomovirus dubbed Squash vein yellowing virus (SqVYV) associated with WVD. In addition, they showed that SqVYV was transmitted by the silverleaf whitefly Bemisia tabaci (Biotype “B”). Watermelon death and fruit rot symptoms of WVD were evident in SqVYV greenhouse-inoculated plants (Adkins et al. 2006). A field st