Biological properties and distribution of Watermelon mosaic virus (WMV) in cucurbits growing areas of several Iranian provinces

Watermelon mosaic virus (WMV) is one of the important plant viruses of cucurbits worldwide. In order to investigate relative incidence, experimental host range, symptomatology and transmission efficacy of aphid vector of WMV, cucurbits species (squash, cantaloupe, watermelon, and cucumber) grown in agricultural regions in five provinces (Esfahan, West Azarbayjan, Kerman, Hormozgan and Yazd) were surveyed. Collected samples were analyzed by double antibody sandwich ELISA (DAS-ELISA). The symptoms of WMV infected samples were mosaic, malformation, blistering and vein banding. The highest and lowest virus infections were 44.9 and 9.5% in West Azarbayjane and Keramn provinces, respectively. The maximum (70.6 %) and minimum (5.9%) rates of infection were observed in cantaloupe and watermelon, respectively. According to host range and region, 19 positive infected samples were selected for further studies. Depending on virus isolates, inoculation of selected isolates on test plants produced different symptoms. The antiserum prepared against whole WMV particles had a titer of 1/500 in indirect ELISA test. The rate of virus transmission by Myzus persica according to WMV isolates was between 20 to 60%. The results of this study indicated that WMV is a destructive virus in cucurbit plants in Iran and different cucurbit plants showed diverse susceptibility against WMV infection.