First report of watermelon crinkle leaf-associated virus 1 (WCLaV-1) and WCLaV-2 in Spain
Watermelon crinkle leaf-associated virus 1(Coguvirus citrulli, WCLaV-1 – EPPO Alert List) and watermelon crinkle leaf-associated virus 2 (Coguvirus henanense, WCLaV-2 – EPPO Alert List) are first reported from Spain.
In 2023 WCLaV-1 was first detected by HTS in a specimen of melon aphid (Aphis gossypii) collected from field-grown cucurbit crops exhibiting yellowing and mosaic virus-like symptoms in the region of Murcia (south-eastern Spain).
To assess the occurrence and distribution of WCLaV-1 and -2 in cucurbit production areas in Murcia, 10 diseased cucurbit samples (two samples from crops of courgette, cucumber, melon, pumpkin and watermelon) were tested using RT-PCR. Both viruses were detected in watermelon (Citrullus lanatus) samples.
Dot-blot hybridization analysis of 50 frozen samples of cucurbit crops collected between 2022 and 2024 revealed that WCLaV-1 and WCLaV-2 were present in 45% and 9% of watermelon samples with virus-like symptoms, respectively, as well as in melon (Cucumis melo) and cucumber (Cucumis sativus) samples at a low frequency (WClaV-1: 4% and 9%, respectively; WCLaV-2: 7% and 1%, respectively). These are the first reports of melon and cucumber as hosts.
Further studies should be conducted to assess the distribution and impact of both viruses in Spain.
Sources
de Moya‐Ruiz C, Juárez M, Ferriol I, Gómez P (2025) First report of watermelon crinkle leaf‐associated virus 1 and 2 in different cucurbit hosts in Spain. New Disease Reports 51(2), e70040. https://doi.org/10.1002/ndr2.70040