First report of kyuri green mottle mosaic virus in Türkiye and presence in commercial seed lots
Kyuri green mottle mosaic virus (KGMMV) is a tobamovirus infecting cucurbits, first described in Japan in 1967. According to scientific literature, its presence is limited to Asia (Japan, South Korea, Indonesia) where KGMMV has been reported to cause severe yield reduction in cucurbit plants. A recent study conducted in Türkiye tested commercial seed lots for the presence of KGMMV. Locally produced and imported commercial seed samples of cucumber (Cucumis sativus), melon (Cucumis melo), watermelon (Citrullus lanatus), and summer squash (Cucurbita pepo) species were received from various seed companies. The imported seeds originated from Peru, Chile, Latvia, India, and Morocco. In melon, 9 lots out of 20 (45%) tested positive, in cucumber 5 lots out of 20 (25%), and in summer squash 2 out of 20 (10%). Locally produced seeds of bottle gourd (Lagenaria siceraria), and winter squash (Cucurbita moschata) varieties were tested and found free from the virus.
The article does not mention precisely where the positive seed originated, but states that the positive lots originated in Türkiye, North Africa and South America, suggesting that KGMMV may be more widespread than currently documented.
Sources
Balsak SC (2023) Kyuri green mottle mosaic virus detected for the first time in Turkey. Australasian Plant Disease Notes 18(1), 22. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13314-023-00504-3