Melon yellow spot virus: an emerging disease of cucurbits in Asia
Melon yellow spot virus (Tospovirus, MYSV) was first identified in 1992 in Japan causing spotted wilt symptoms and a severe chlorosis on melon crops (EPPO RS 2000/158). It was also found that MYSV is transmitted by Thrips palmi (EPPO A1 List) in a persistent manner. In addition to melons (Cucumis melo), diseases caused by MYSV have been observed on cucumbers (Cucumis sativus), watermelon (Citrullus lanatus) and balsam pear (Momordica charantia). MYSV has also been detected in several weed species commonly occurring around cucumber greenhouses (e.g. Acalypha australis, Capsella bursa-pastoris, Conyza canadensis, Conyza sumatrensis, Gnaphalium purpureum, Lamium amplexicaule, Oxalis corniculata, Sonchus oleraceus, Stellaria media, Stellaria neglecta, Veronica persica). At present, MYSV is considered to be one of the most serious threats to cucumber production in Japan. When infection occurs early in the season, yield losses of 30 to 60% have been observed. In addition to Japan, MYSV has been reported during the last decade on cucurbitaceous crops in Taiwan (2006), Thailand (2008), and China (2009, Hainan and Guangxi provinces).
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