Reflective Plastic Mulch but not a Resistance-Inducing Treatment Reduced Watermelon Mosaic Virus Incidence and Yield Losses in Squash
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Plant viruses, especially those transmitted by aphids in a nonpersistent manner, cause significant yield losses in cucurbit crops. Studies have shown that UV-reflective mulches can reduce insects from entering a crop with coincidental reductions in virus incidence. Treatment of plants with various forms of resistance-inducing agents have also shown promise for their ability to reduce plant virus incidence and associated losses. In this article, we describe a two-trial study that evaluated the integration of UV-reflective plastic mulch and a commercially available resistance-inducing treatment, BioYield, to reduce the incidence and disease-related yield losses in summer squash [Cucurbita pepo var. melopepo (L.) Alef.] caused by the aphid-borne plant virus, Watermelon mosaic virus (WMV). In the spring trial, there was significantly reduced WMV incidence and whole treatment average enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) values among squash plants grown on silver-on-black (UV-reflective) mulch compared with plants grown on nonreflective black mulch. Significantly greater squash fruit yields were obtained for plants grown on the silver-on-black mulch relative to the black mulch treatment. In the fall trial, highly UV-reflective silver mulch was used in addition to silver-on-black and black mulches. WMV incidence and whole treatment average ELISA values were significantly lower for squash plants in the silver mulch treatment compared with silver-on-black and black mulch treatments. The silver-on-black treatment resulted in lower WMV incidence and whole treatment average ELISA values compared with the black mulch treatment. Squash plant yields were significantly greater for plants in the silver-on-black mulch treatment than for those in the silver or black mulch treatments. Treatment of squash plants with BioYield did not reduce virus incidence, or whole treatment average ELISA values, nor did it result in higher squash fruit yields compared with the nontreated control in spring or fall trials.
