Molecular characterization and Efficacy Study of Different Treatments Against Cucumber mosaic virus in Pumpkin (Cucurbita moschata)

Author: Munmi Borah, Gowtham Kumar Routhu, Rupsanatan Mandal and Palash Deb Nath

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Abstract

Pumpkin (Cucurbita moschata Duch.), a prominent cucurbitaceous vegetable consumed in India is more vulnerable to viral infections under field conditions. Plant viruses are considered major constraints for cucurbit production. Management of viral diseases is crucial for increasing pumpkin yields and value. Viral diseases of pumpkins are widespread in Assam and considered as a major concern for production and productivity of the crop. Pumpkin plants showing chlorotic spots, mosaic, mottling, green vein banding, leaf deformation and blistering symptoms were collected and analyzed for presence of virus using reverse transcription PCR (RT-PCR). Sequence similarity analysis and phylogenetic studies revealed that the isolated virus was Cucumber mosaic virus of Subgroup 1B. Further, the study also constitutes to test the efficacy of different seed treatments for the inactivation of seed-borne Cucumber mosaic virus in pumpkin variety Arjuna Pumpkin. In the current study, virus inactivation treatments for seeds were prepared using potassium peroxymonosulfate, trisodium phosphate, triton × 100, sodium hypochlorite, hydrochloric acid (HCl), pseudomonas fluorescence, an untreated control, and farmer's practises as treatments. It was found that seeds treated with potassium peroxymonosulfate showed a lower percentage of viral infection (6.70%), followed by HCl treatment (13.48%) and Trisodium phosphate (26.93%). In addition, all other treatments observed an apparent higher viral symptom severity score index than Potassium peroxymonosulfate. Based on the results of this experiment, potassium peroxymonosulfate was found to be the most effective treatment since it considerably reduced the proportion of infected plants and promoted healthy vegetative growth.

Keywords

Pumpkin, CMV, Coat protein, Seed Treatment, Seed-borne Viruses, AUDPC, PCA-biplot

Conclusion

The present study revealed that the viral diseases of pumpkins are widespread in Assam and considered as a major concern for production and productivity of the crop. Results from reverse transcription PCR and molecular characterization indicates the presence of CMV infection in pumpkin and generated an amplicon size of 699bp in 1.2% agarose gel electrophoresis. It was not possible to establish a correlation between the type of symptom, which might not act as a reliable indicator for a particular virus and for this, molecular characterization is essential. In this study we aimed to test the efficacy of different seed treatments in controlling the virus infection in pumpkin. The results states that 2% Potassium peroxymonosulfate is the most effective treatment against mixed virus infection viruses in pumpkin crops. This information is, therefore, a valuable contribution for the management of viral diseases in cucurbits of Assam, India. The management strategies against viruses in plants also depend on existing viruses, seasons of severe infection by those viruses and the weeds that act as alternate hosts. As mentioned here, the important role that seeds play in virus spread is recognized by researchers and evaluating the optimum dosage and duration of seed treatments for different seed-virus combinations is important without damaging seed vigour and health.

References

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How to cite this article

Munmi Borah, Gowtham Kumar Routhu, Rupsanatan Mandal and Palash Deb Nath (2023). Molecular characterization and Efficacy Study of Different Treatments Against Cucumber mosaic virus in Pumpkin (Cucurbita moschata). Biological Forum – An International Journal, 15(2): 1053-1063.