Identification and Management of the Emerging Cucumber Green Mottle Mosaic Virus on Cucurbit Crops

Authors: Ling, Kai-Shu

Submitted to: Grow: Plant Health Exchange
Publication Type: Other
Publication Acceptance Date: 1/1/2023
Publication Date: 2/1/2023
Citation: Ling, K. 2023. Identification and Management of the Emerging Cucumber Green Mottle Mosaic Virus on Cucurbit Crops. Grow: Plant Health Exchange. .. https://doi.org/10.1094/GROW-CUC-02-23-011.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1094/GROW-CUC-02-23-011

Interpretive Summary: Cucurbit green mottle mosaic virus (CGMMV) is an emerging tobamovirus infecting cucurbit crops in North America. It was first reported in 2014 to infect cucumber in Canada and melon and watermelon in California. This seed-borne virus has a potential to spread to other states in causing serious damage to cucurbit crops if not manage properly. In this webcast, ARS scientist in Charleston, SC will share his experiences in identification and management of CGMMV through an integrated pest management approach. Through understanding of the CGMMV genetic diversity and the mechanism of seed transmission on cucurbit seeds, sensitive detection methods can be developed for virus detection and seed health testing. With the lack of progress in genetic resistance, effective disinfectants should be considered in nursery operation, and greenhouse or field crop production to prevent virus spread. By incorporating integrated pest management, we would be able to effectively manage this emerging virus.

Technical Abstract: Cucumber green mottle mosaic virus (CGMMV) is an emerging tobamovirus infecting cucurbit crops worldwide. CGMMV outbreaks were first reported in North American in 2014, on field melon and watermelon productions in California and on greenhouse cucumber crops in Canada (Alberta). This seed-borne and highly contagious virus poses serious threat to the cucurbit industry. Timely diagnosis and accurate identification of the causal agent is a prerequisite for effective management of this emerging disease on cucurbit crops. In this presentation, I will first provide some general information on the recent disease outbreaks and worldwide distribution of CGMMV, its genetic diversity and related tobamoviruses infecting cucurbits and how to conduct disease diagnosis and virus detection, especially seed health testing. I will follow up with factors influencing disease epidemiology, including possible sources of virus inoculum, especially focus on the relationship between seed-borne and mechanical transmission. Finally, with the lack of disease resistance cultivars to CGMMV, I will offer some recommendations for integrated disease management, including quarantine and inspection, seed treatment and planting clean and certified seeds, scouting and test to ensure healthy seedlings in transplanting nurseries, monitoring and rogue disease plants to slow the spread of the disease in commercial cucurbit production, and prevent disease outbreaks through the use of effective disinfectants against CGMMV.