Skip to main content
ARS Home » Southeast Area » Charleston, South Carolina » Vegetable Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #410186
Research Project: Basic and Applied Approaches for Pest Management in Vegetable Crops

Location: Vegetable Research

Title: Whitefly-transmitted Viruses of Cucurbits in the Southern United States

Author
item DEVENDRAN, RAGUNATHAN - University Of Georgia
item KAVALAPPARA, SARITHA - University Of Georgia
item Simmons, Alvin
item BAG, SUDEEP - University Of Georgia

Submitted to: Viruses
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 11/17/2023
Publication Date: 11/20/2023
Citation: Devendran, R., Kavalappara, S.R., Simmons, A.M., Bag, S. 2023. Whitefly-transmitted Viruses of Cucurbits in the Southern United States. Viruses. 15(11): 2278. https://doi.org/10.3390/v15112278.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/v15112278

Interpretive Summary: Cucurbits crops (such as squash, cucumber, and melon) are important around the world, including in the southern United States. Unfortunately, high temperatures, especially in recent years, promote the rapid build-up of the sweetpotato whitefly in fall-grown cucurbits in the southern region. Consequently, whitefly-transmitted viruses severely impact the marketable yield of cucurbits. We discuss three major groups of whitefly-transmitted viruses that damage cucurbit crops in the southern US; this includes begomoviruses, criniviruses, and ipomoviruses. We discuss the biology, epidemiology, detection, and management of these viruses with cultivars with resistance, cultural practices, and other control strategies. This information is useful to the agricultural community.

Technical Abstract: Cucurbits are economically important crops that are widely cultivated in many parts of the world, including the southern United States. In recent years, higher temperatures have favored the rapid build-up of whiteflies in fall-grown cucurbits in the southern region. Consequently, whitefly-transmitted viruses (WTVs) have severely impacted the marketable yield of cucurbits. In this review, we discuss three major groups of WTVs that negatively impact cucurbit cultivation in the southern US; this includes begomoviruses, criniviruses, and ipomoviruses. We discuss the available information on the biology, epidemiology, and advances made towards the detection and management of these viruses such as sources of plant resistance and cultural practices.