Unveiling the incidence and distribution of RNA viruses infecting cucurbit crops in Dera Ghazi Khan Division
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.55627/pbulletin.004.02.1635Keywords:
Cucurbits, RNA viruses, CABYV, CGMMV, CMV, PotyvirusesAbstract
The Cucurbitaceae family possesses a prominent position among the horticultural crops. It contains 800 species of herbaceous plants within 120 genera. These crops are vulnerable to several abiotic and biotic stresses, and RNA viruses are the most important biotic constraints. Viruses of the genera Potyvirus, Tobamovirus, Polerovirus, and Cucumovirus cause havoc and losses in cucurbits. They can curtail the yield of cucurbit crops by up to 70%. The proper identification and prevalence of some RNA viruses is still unknown. This study was designed to calculate the identify and calculate the prevalnce of RNA viruses in the Dera Ghazi Khan Division. Surveys were conducted to gather samples, which were then analysed using serological techniques. The disease incidence (DI) was determined based on the samples that tested positive in the ELISA. The combined disease incidence of RNA viruses was 84.37% in the study area. The DI of potyviruses was 19.88%, and CMV, CGMMV, and CABYV had disease incidences of 25.77%, 18.45%, and 20.2%, respectively. The study has provided a detailed description regarding the prevalence of different RNA viruses that will serve as crucial information for the breeders to develop varieties resistant to these viruses. Moreover, there is a need for a proper management strategy against the insect vectors to stop the spread of these viruses. There is also a need for finding mild strains of these viruses, which can be used for cross-protection against virulent strains of these viruses.
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Copyright (c) 2025 Muhammad Sarmad Fawaz, Muhammad Ashfaq, Mirza Abid Mehmood, Unsar Naeem-Ullah, Samah Bashir Kayani, Hassan Rehman Ali
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