Incidence and distribution of Zucchini yellow mosaic virus (ZYMV) infecting Cucumber (Cucumis sativus L) crop in Pothowar, Pakistan

Zucchini yellow mosaic virus (ZYMV) is one of the most destructive virus of cucurbits and found throughout the cucurbits growing areas of Pothowar region of Pakistan. Overall 300 samples were randomly collected from 40 cucumber growing fields from all over the pothowar region during two consecutive years (2015-16 and 2016-17). All the samples were screened by Double Antibody Sandwich- Enzyme Linked Immunosorbant Assay (DAS-ELISA). Relative incidence of ZYMV recorded in two consecutive years was 60.6% and 66% respectively. The highest disease incidence of ZYMV was 77% during 2015-16 in  Chakwal while during 2016-17 highest disease incidence was 71% recorded from Rawalpindi. No district of pothowar region was found to free from viral infection. Among these samples weed flora was also collected where available and subjected to DAS-ELISA for conformation as alternate host of virus. Reaction plants were also used during experiment for virus conformation and for pathogenicity test. The core interest of this study was to explore the incidence of ZYMV infecting cucumber in pothowar region through serological assay. Keywords: ELISA; Incidence; Pothowar; ZYMV http://dx.doi.org/10.19045/bspab.2019.80148