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A survey of the incidence of yellowing viruses in Greek glasshouse (and occasional field) cucumber and melon crops was carried out during 2000–03. In most cases disease incidence ranged from 50 to 80%. Simplex RT-PCR was used for the detection of Beet pseudo-yellows virus (BPYV) and Cucurbit yellow stunting disorder virus (CYSDV), and DAS-ELISA for the detection of Cucurbit aphid-borne yellows virus (CABYV). The results showed that BPYV was the predominant virus in cucumber and melon crops, whereas CYSDV, reported for first time in Greece, was isolated only in three regions of southern Greece: Rhodes, Crete and Arkadia. CABYV was detected only in three cucumber glasshouses in Pella (Macedonia). A simplified triplex RT-PCR method using a simple sample-preparation protocol was developed to allow rapid, sensitive and simultaneous detection of the three viruses. Sequence comparisons of the PCR products of BPYV and CYSDV revealed 98·7 and 100% amino acid identity, respectively, with previously reported sequences. The arable weed species Amaranthus retroflexus, Selosia cristata, Sonchus oleraceus and Sonchus sp. were identified as potential BPYV reservoirs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article presents the first reported case of tomato leaf curl New Delhi virus infecting bitter gourd (family of Cucurbitaceae) in Pakistan. Plants showing yellow blotch symptoms were observed in several fields in the vicinity of Lahore, with an average incidence of 60 to 70 percent. The leaf samples were collected from four diseased and from two apparently healthy (symptomless) plants, and used for DNA extraction. The presence of a begomovirus was confirmed by polymerase chain reaction amplification using a degenerate primer pair designed to conserved regions of the coat protein genes

This article reports on the infestation of the bacteria, Ralstonia solanecearum, on Siraita grosvenorii (common names: Lou Han Gou) in north Guangxi, China. This is first report of a member of the Cucurbitaceae as a host of Ralstonia solanacearum. The new wilt disease was observed in Luo Han Guo plants growing in the lowland fields. The disease incidence ranged from 5 to 8 percent, with symptoms appearing 8–10 weeks after transplanting. The author of this article suggested that the plant is the new host of the bacteria.