Viral Diseases

 

      Viral diseases are among the major limiting production factors for cucumber production in tropical areas.Typical symptoms include green and yellow mottling and wrinkling of the leaves, mottling and wartiness of the fruit, and general dwarfing of the plant. Cultural practices developed in the 1950s included planting of 50-100 ft border rows of non-susceptible crops such  as sweet corn, beans or eggplant. Growers should determine what viral diseases are prevalent in their area of production and select suitable resistant varieties where possible. Laboratory analyses may be necessary to accurately identify the causal agent(s). Enzyme linked immunosorbent assay or ELISA kits have greatly simplified virus identification and are available at diagnostic laboratories.