Current status of some cucurbit viruses in Cukurova region (Adana and Mersin provinces) of Turkey and molecular characterization of zucchini yellow mosaic virus isolates

Surveys were conducted from 2008 to 2010 to identify the viruses infecting cucurbit fields in Adana and Mersin provinces of Cukurova region in Turkey. All cucurbit samples collected from 18 districts were tested for Cucumber mosaic virus (CMV), Cucurbit aphid-borne yellow virus (CABYV), Papaya ringspot virus (PRSV), Squash mosaic virus (SqMV), Zucchini yellow mosaic virus (ZYMV) and Watermelon mosaic virus (WMV) by double antibody sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (DAS-ELISA) using polyclonal antisera. Overall, 449 out of 485 samples were found positive for the tested viruses; 327 out of 350 samples in Adana and 122 out of 135 in Mersin were infected at least with one virus. During the entire surveys, 258 of 281 squash samples, 33 of 33 cucumber samples, 84 of 88 melon samples and 74 of 83 watermelon samples were found to have a single or mix virus infection. All six viruses were detected on cucurbits in Adana while all samples from Mersin province were found to be negative for CABY. Sequence analyses indicated that the Turkish ZYMV isolates (ZYMV-TR3, ZYMV-TR15 and ZYMV-TR17) belong to the most common molecular cluster of ZYMV worldwide, including isolates from Europe, Africa, the Middle East, the Indian subcontinent and South America.