Unveiling the current status of viruses in cucurbits in Jordan
摘要
Cucurbits include economically significant crops such as squash, cucumber, melon, watermelon, and pumpkin, and they are among the most widely cultivated vegetables in the world. In Jordan, cucurbits are the second major vegetable crop after tomato, and they are grown in three main geographic areas: Jordan Valley, highlands, and the Jordanian Badia with its eastern extension. Extensive cultivation of cucurbits has resulted in the emergence of several virus diseases, which have a significant impact on crop production. To date, at least 59 viruses have been reported to infect cucurbits worldwide. Since the late 1970s, data on the occurrence of virus infections in cucurbits in Jordan have been publicly available, with new infections reported over the years. However, a comprehensive overview of the current situation is lacking. In this study, we monitored the occurrence of viruses in cucurbit crops through a comprehensive survey conducted in seven geographic governorates in Jordan: Amman, Al-Balqa’, Al-Mafraq, Al-Zarqa, Irbid, Ma’an, and Madaba. The investigation revealed that squash leaf curl virus was the most prevalent virus, with an incidence of 47.8% (n = 90), followed by watermelon chlorotic stunt virus (41.1%). Multiple infections were frequently observed, with 27.5% of the virus-positive samples being infected with two viruses, and 16.25% with three viruses. Notably, one sample had a complex co-infection with seven different viruses. Overall, our study provides an updated assessment on the geographic occurrence of viruses in cucurbits in Jordan. This study encourages reflections on how agricultural practices and climate change may have been potential influential factors shaping the current virome scenario in cucurbit crops in the country.