Aphid Vectors and Epidemiology of Cucumber Mosaic Virus (CMV) in the Egyptian Sweet Pepper
TL;DR
The results highlighting the importance of integrated aphid and weed management to reduce the epidemiology of CMV and spread during early crop growth highlight the importance of integrated aphid and weed management.
Abstract
Field surveys were conducted during the 2022/2023 and 2023/2024 growing seasons to study aphid abundance on sweet pepper (Capsicum annuum), associated weeds, and on yellow sticky traps in relation to the incidence of Cucumber mosaic virus (CMV). Three aphid species were recorded: Myzus persicae, Aphis gossypii, and Macrosiphum euphorbiae. M. persicae was the most abundant species. Transmission tests showed that the most efficient vectors of CMV were M. persicae (91%) followed by A. gossypii (80%). CMV infection was confirmed using electron microscopy, which revealed virus particles of 28–30 nm, and PCR analysis showing 97.5–99.6% similarity with global CMV isolates. Natural incidence and epidemiology of CMV start from mid-April and reached 100% by eleventh week of the growing season with viruliferous aphids prevalent on Solanaceae host plants and several weed belonging to different families, whereas Poaceae and Cyperaceae were largely free from infection. Several weed species were confirmed by PCR to harbor CMV and may serve as alternative reservoirs for both aphids and viruses in the field. These results highlight the importance of integrated aphid and weed management to reduce the epidemiology of CMV and spread during early crop growth.