ZYMV Zucchini yellow mosaic virus
- ZYMV is an aphid-borne virus that causes yield losses and fruit quality defects in cucurbit crops.
- The genus Potyvirus is one of the larger groups of plant viruses, and they cause diseases in a wide range of plant species.
- The genus currently consists of 167 species that infect monocots or dicots, including domesticated and wild plants.
- The representative species is ZYMV
Host range
- The natural host range of ZYMV is essentially limited to members of the family Cucurbitaceae.
- ZYMV infects all cultivated cucurbit types including cucumber, pumpkin, rockmelon, squash, watermelon and zucchini.
How it is spread
- It is transmitted by several species of aphids in a nonpersistent manner.
- Aphids vectors and method of transmission
- ZYMV was transmitted from infected to healthy host by direct contact.
- ZYMV is readily spread between plants when footwear, cutting implements or machinery damage infected leaves and the infective sap then brushes or rubs onto healthy plants.
Symptoms
- ZYMV causes very severe symptoms of mosaic, yellowing, stunting and deformity on the foliage of virtually all cucurbits.
- It also causes deformation and discolorations of the fruits and early attacks can lead to total loss of crops
- Symptoms are similar to those caused by infection with WMV (Watermelon mosaic virus) and PRSV (Papaya ringspot virus).
Malformation and distortion of ZYMV infected on cucumber leaves and fruit
