El marchitamiento subito de la sandia [Citrullus lanatus (Thunb.) Matsum & Nakai] en Puerto Rico.

摘要

Watermelon [Citrullus lanatus (Thunb) Matsun & Nakai] vine decline has caused great economic losses in the southwestern region of Puerto Rico. During 2007 and 2008 fields trials were conducted at the Agricultural Experiment Station at Juana Diaz, Puerto Rico, to determine watermelon susceptibility and vectors role in the disease. In a randomized complete block design with four replicates, cultivar Royal Sweet was planted with application of insecticides were compared with UV reflective plastic mulch treatment and an untreated control. The treatment with insecticide and fungicide increased yield in a 40% when compared to the control. Cultivars Royal Sweet, Starbright, Sangria, Regency XR-212 were planted with no application of insecticides or fungicides. The disease was present and because of the severity of the disease there was no commercial production of fruit. Serological tests identified mixed infections of the same viruses. The most important vector was whitefly, Bemisia tabaci. Aphis gossypii. Weed species infected with potyvirus were: Momordica charantia, Cuccumis anguria, C. dipsaceus, Cissus verticellata, Ipomea ochracea, I. trifolia and Merremia umbellate. The disease was transmitted by mechanic inoculation to healthy plants and were positive for a potyvirus different from ZYMV and PRSV. This was corroborated with RT-PCR and PCR.