CHARACTERIZATION AND OCCURRENCE OF ZUCCHINI YELLOW MOSAIC-VIRUS IN SUDAN

Zucchini yellow mosaic potyvirus (ZYMV) was isolated in 1993 from a sq uash plant (Cucurbita pepo cv. Eskandrani) showing severe leaf and fru it distortions, collected in the Gezira region (Sudan). This isolate ( ZYMV-Su) was found to be very closely serologically related if not ide ntical to the type strain from Italy. The host range was mostly limite d to Cucurbitaceae but systemic infection was found to occur on sesame (Sesamum indicum), an important cultivated crop in Sudan. ZYMV-Su ind uced mosaic symptoms on the resistant melon accession PI 414723, indic ating that it belongs to pathotype 2, but did not cause wilting of mel on cv. Dobulon. ZYMV-Su was efficiently transmitted by Myzus persicae and Aphis gossypii in a non-persistent manner. Surveys conducted from 1993 to 1995 revealed that ZYMV occurred in the major cucurbit growing areas in Sudan, in a diversity of crops and agroecosystems.