Cucumber green mottle mosaic virus (CGMMV) is the 'pest of the month' at Your Levy at Work.
The symptoms found on an infected plant will vary with the genus, species, cultivars and growth stages of the plant, and the strain of the virus.
In cucurbits, symptoms described range from light yellow green spots, vein clearing and crumpling on young leaves, to chlorotic mottling, leaf deformation, plant stunting, bleaching of mature leaves and necrosis at later stages of growth. Symptoms on fruit can include fruit abortion, fruit malformation, fruit drop, uneven ripening, internal yellowing, breakdown and discoloration of the flesh.
In cucumber, fruit become soft and has a reduced shelf life, slightly reduced size and overall reduced yield.
Other mosaic diseases, caused by potyviruses, can cause similar symptoms. This makes the disease difficult to identify by symptoms alone and laboratory tests are necessary to confirm infection.
Transmission
CGMMV is very stable and can survive for long periods (at least several months) in plant debris, soil, and on vehicles, equipment and tools. Contaminated seed, infected transplants and contaminated equipment are the most common ways the virus can be introduced into a crop.
The virus is transmitted through the seed of several cultivated cucurbit species and seed transmission has been largely responsible for the international movement of the virus.
The virus does not require a specific insect vector for transmission. Chewing insects like leaf beetles may play a minor role in spread. Honey bees can transmit the virus through foraging and collecting pollen.