Almost all cucurbits, cucumber, spinach, banana, melons, peppers, squash, tomato, lupins, beans, carrot, celery, lettuce, spinach, beet, many ornamentals, bedding plants, and more
Cucumber mosaic virus, from the cucumovirus genus, is common worldwide in both temperate and tropical climates, but cannot survive in extremely dry conditions. Infection results in severe damage to host plants. The symptoms induced by CMV includes light green–dark green mosaics, generalized chlorosis, stunting, leaf filiformism, and local chlorotic and are host specific.
CMV is transmitted by Aphids and parasitic weeds. In lab conditions, the virus can be transmitted mechanically through plant sap and is seedborne. The large number of CMV hosts allows it to overseason from one crop to another by potentially surviving in plant roots.
There are no treatments for viruses; plants that are infected with the cucumber mosaic virus should be removed from the field and destroyed immediately. Since the virus might have spread before symptoms appeared, focus should be on prevention, usage of resistant varieties, and the elimination of weeds and aphids.
It’s easier and more cost effective to overcome infestation by eliminating aphids during the initial stage of infestation. Make it a routine to monitor fields regularly and search plants for the presence of aphids on a weekly basis.
Sanitation: Keep the crops’ close surroundings and environmental conditions neat by removing weeds and closeby plants that are non-cultivated and unprotected, which can attract aphids.
Growing inside structures: The most effective way to protect your crop from aphids is simply (but costly) growing them inside a greenhouse or a dense (50 mesh) net structure.
The following insecticides are used in one or more parts of the world: imidacloprid-based product (1 iteration via irrigation or spray can – although this method will not keep your crop safe completely from acquiring the disease and 2-3 additional spraying application may help to reduce chances of infection),
flonicamid, imidacloprid, pymetrozine, thiamethoxam, sulfoxaflor, acetamiprid, chlorpyrifos, cypermethrin, and bifenthrin.
The use of insecticides to control the spread of CMV has its limitations since the virus is transmitted in a non persistent manner; aphids may have already transmitted the virus before the insecticide killed them.
Spray-able products containing one or more of the following molecules: azadirachtin, neem oil, pyrethrins, and potassium salt of fatty acids.
*Names marked in red are considered to be highly poisonous to beneficial insects.
*Names marked in green are considered to be organic and IPM (integrated pest management) compatible.