A number of plant viruses were isolated from diseased cucurbits in Arizona during 1982 -85. Watermelon mosiac virus 2, cucumber mosaic virus, and squash mosaic virus are previously recognized viral pathogens in Arizona and in most years are not considered economically threatening to cucurbit production. Three newly described plant viruses (lettuce infectious yellows, watermelon curly mottle and zucchini yellow mosaic) however, have the potential to, or already have, incited serious epidemics in Arizona. Losses are heaviest with these diseases when insect vector levels build up early in the growing season and plants become infected during critical developmental stages.

No description available.

No description available.

The transmission properties, host range, and virus- vector relationships of chino del tomate virus (CdTV), a new whitefly-transmitted geminivirus of tomato, are described. The virus is transmitted by B. tabaci, the sweet potato whitefly, but not by seed or sap. The virus infects members of the Asclepiadaceae, Leguminosae, Malvaceae, and Solanaceae. In virus-vector studies, minimum AAF and IAF times were 1 hour and 2 hours, respectively. The virus was retained by its whitefly vector for 4.5 and 7.3 days following 24- and 72-hr AAF respectively. Relative efficiencies of transmission for 1, 5, 10 and 20 B. tabaci were 15, 49, 84 and 100 percent, respectively. The chino del tomate (CdT), or leaf curl disease of tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.), was first reported in cultivated tomato fields in Sinaloa, Mexico in 1970-71 (4). Presently, it occurs in tomato production areas of the west coast of Sinaloa and may affect 100 percent of the plants in a field (1). The disease is characterized by curled and rolled leaves, thickened veins, a bright-to-subdued-yellow mosaic which varies with time of the year, stunting, and a reduced fruit set (1,3). Recently, a whitefly -transmitted geminivirus, CdT virus (CdTV), was implicated as the causal agent of the disease (1,3), but information concerning the biological nature of the virus is lacking. Here, we present the results of studies involving virus transmission, experimental host range, and virus -vector relationships.

No description available.

No description available.

No description available.

The use of stylet oil to slow the spread of the whitefly- transmitted vines, lettuce infectious yellows, shows sufficient promise to plan for expanded research efforts. The main positive results were a slower buildup of virus infection and a larger number of marketable heads in the block of lettuce sprayed with oil. Weight (in grams) of individual heads could be correlated with time of infection in that the lowest weights and marketability ratings occurred in plants infected earliest in the season. Whether they were front treated or untreated plots, marketable heads weighed an average of 784 grams; unmarketable heads weighed 491 grams. The key difference is that, on the average, five marketable heads of lettuce were in the oil- treated plots for every three in the untreated plots. A follow-up experiment will be conducted in 1989 to determine if these preliminary positive results indicate that stylet oil treatment may be a practical control method for slowing the spread of L1YV.

Powdery mildew of cantaloupe, caused by Sphaerotheca fuliginea, is a perennial and often devastating disease in Arizona. During 1987 and 1984 potential new fungicides were evaluated in field trials for disease control. In 1987, Bayleton, Rally and Spotless provided significant disease control. In 1984, Rally and Spotless significantly reduced development of powdery mildew, while Bayleton and Tilt were less effective. Uneven development of powdery mildew within the plot may partially explain the apparent lack of significant disease control in 1988 by Bayleton and Tilt.

Leaf drop of lettuce, caused by Sclerotinia sclerotiorum, is a sporadic, but destructive, disease in Arizona. Field trials were established during 1987 and 1988 to evaluate potential new fungicides for disease control. Ronilan and Rovral, the two materials currently registered for use on lettuce for Sclerotinia leaf drop, were consistently among the most effective fungicides for disease control. Levels of disease control equivalent to that provided by Rovral and Ronilan were observed with CGA-449, SC-0854 SDS-65311, Bay HWG 1608, and Spotless. These field tests have identified several potential new fungicides for control of leaf drop of lettuce caused by S. sclerotionan.