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ARS Home » Pacific West Area » Salinas, California » Crop Improvement and Protection Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #399429
Research Project: Biological and Biotechnological Approaches for Management of Insect Vectors and Vector-borne Viruses Affecting Vegetable Crops

Location: Crop Improvement and Protection Research

Title: Cucurbit chlorotic yellows virus

Author
item Wintermantel, William - Bill

Submitted to: Extension Fact Sheets
Publication Type: Other
Publication Acceptance Date: 10/20/2022
Publication Date: 12/1/2022
Citation: Wintermantel, W.M. 2022. Cucurbit chlorotic yellows virus. Emerging Viruses in Cucurbits Working Group. No. 2201. Available: https://ecucurbitviruses.org/resources/fact-sheets-videos/cucurbit-chlorotic-yellows-virus

Interpretive Summary: Cucurbit chlorotic yellows virus (CCYV) causes severe yellowing and yield loss for many cucurbit crops including melon, squash, pumpkin, and watermelon. The virus was first identified as a threat to cucurbit production in Japan during the early 2000s and has since spread throughout many cucurbit producing regions of the world. Symptoms of CCYV infection on cucurbit plants do not develop until three weeks following infection and begin as yellow or white spots that rapidly develop into a mottle. As symptoms advance, veins remain green but tissue between veins turns yellow. Symptoms of CCYV infection may be confused with symptoms caused by some other viruses, including the closely related cucurbit yellow stunting disorder virus and beet pseudoyellows virus, as well as the unrelated, cucurbit aphid-borne yellows virus. Symptoms of CCYV infection may also be confused with those caused by various nutritional deficiencies. CCYV is transmitted by the sweetpotato (or silverleaf) whitefly (Bemisia tabaci) and infects all cucurbit crops as well as a large number of alternate host plant species from several genera. Resistance is not currently available in any commercial cucurbit varieties. Management is through crop and weed management and suppression of vector whitefly populations.

Technical Abstract: Cucurbit chlorotic yellows virus (CCYV) causes severe yellowing and yield loss for many cucurbit crops including melon, squash, pumpkin, and watermelon. The virus was first identified as a threat to cucurbit production in Japan during the early 2000s and has since spread throughout many cucurbit producing regions of the world. Symptoms of CCYV infection on cucurbit plants do not develop until three weeks following infection, and begin as chlorotic (yellow) spots and rapidly develop into a chlorotic mottle. As symptoms advance, the chlorotic spots coalesce, developing into interveinal chlorosis. Symptoms of CCYV infection may be confused with symptoms caused by some other viruses, including the criniviruses, cucurbit yellow stunting disorder virus and beet pseudoyellows virus, as well as the polerovirus, cucurbit aphid-borne yellows virus (CABYV). Symptoms of CCYV infection may also be confused with those caused by various nutritional deficiencies. CCYV is transmitted by the sweetpotato whitefly (Bemisia tabaci) and infects all cucurbit crops as well as a large number of alternate host plant species from several genera. Resistance is not currently available in any commercial cucurbit varieties. Management is through crop and weed management and suppression of vector whitefly populations.