Cucumber producers in the province of Almeria do not have to worry, at least for now, about damages caused by the Tomato Leaf Curl New Delhi Virus (ToLCNDV) to their plantations, although they should still remain alert.
According to the latest data of the Alert and Phytosanitary Information System (RAIF) of Andalusia's Council of Agriculture, Fisheries and Rural Development, while the presence of the virus "has been detected in most plantations," approximately only 1 in every 1,000 plants have been affected.
In any case, at least for now, the presence of the virus "is not having an impact on quality, while production volumes have only been slightly affected."
The RAIF, however, stresses the importance of prevention measures against the virus, which is transmitted by whiteflies. They emphasise on the importance of controlling whitefly populations, making use of chromotropic traps to monitor and capture insects even prior to the planting.
It is also essential to keep the greenhouse as airtight as possible, and to place meshes where appropriate to prevent the entry of the vector insect.
Lastly, the RAIF recommends placing a thermal blanket over the crops that are free from the vector from the very start and until it is agronomically advisable to remove it.
Source: Fhalmeria