Impact of cucumber mosaic virus and watermelon mosaic virus 2 infection on melon production in Central Spain [Cucumis melo]
1997
Alonso Prados, J.L. | Fraile, A. | Garcia Arenal, F. (Escuela Tecnica Superior de Ingenieros Agronomos, Madrid (Spain). Dept. de Biotecnologia)
The impact of infection by cucumber mosaic cucumovirus (CMV) and watermelon mosaic 2 potyvirus (WMV-2) on melon production was analyzed in an important melon growing area in central Spain. Melon plants of the traditional variety Pield de Sapo were inoculated in an experimental plot with CMV, WMV-2 or CMV + WMV-2 before flowering, between flowering and first fruit set, and after first fruit set. The plot was managed and harvested as usual in the area, and values for standard production components were determined. The impact of virus infection was high for early infections before flowering, leading to a production loss of 50%. Infections between flowering and first fruit set resulted in a loss of 26%. Later infections had no effect on production. Early virus infection also affected quality parameters, but within the range of values accepted as good quality. Early CMV infection affected several production components and had a larger effect on melon production (-60%) than WMV-2 infection (-30%), which only affected the number of fruits per plant. These data will be useful in developing control strategies for virus diseases in melon crops in central Spain
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