Assessment of Virus Disease Incidence and Whitefly Population in an Isolated Agroecosystem in Central Arizona

Abstract

A survey study was undertaken to identify the plant viruses, to document the occurrence of virus diseases, and to document the seasonal population dynamics of insect vectors in a semi-isolated agricultural site in Central Arizona. A typical year-round cropping history at the site consists of cotton and seasonal sequences of vegetables. The most abundant insects caught using 24-hr exposures of yellow sticky traps were whiteflies (Trialeurodes abutilonea Haldeman and Bemisia tabaci Genn.) and the cotton (or melon) aphid (Aphis gossypii Glover). Of the three, only B. tabaci and A. gossvpii are recognized as virus vectors in Arizona. The most prevalent plant virus identified in vegetable crops and/or weeds was lettuce infectious yellows virus (LIYV), a whitefly-transmitted virus. The virus was detected in lettuce, (greenleaf, romaine, iceberg, red leaf) watermelon, cantaloupe, spinach, and cilantro. In addition, the watermelon curly mottle/squash leaf curl virus complex (WCMoV-SLCV), watermelon mosaic virus 2 (WMV-2) zucchini yellow mosaic virus (ZYMV), cucumber mosaic virus (CMV), and squash mosaic virus (SqMV) were identified in cucurbits at various times and locations throughout the season.