Partial Characterization of Zucchini Yellow Mosaic Virus Isolated from Squash in Turkey. R. F. Davis, Assistant Professor, Department of Plant Pathology, Cook College, New Jersey Agricultural Experiment Station, New Brunswick 08903. Plant Dis. 70:735-738. Accepted for publication 26 February 1986. Copyright 1986 The American Phytopathological Society. DOI: 10.1094/PD-70-735.

A virus identified as zucchini yellow mosaic virus (ZYMV-TS2) isolated from diseased squash in Turkey was partially characterized and compared with other ZYMV isolates from Egypt, Italy, and the United States. ZYMV-TS2 was also compared with isolates of watermelon mosaic virus strain 2 (WMV-2) and the WMV-1 strain of papaya ringspot virus (PRSV-W). ZYMV isolates from Turkey and Egypt were similar to the Connecticut strain but different from the Florida strain in timing and severity of symptoms in squash. All ZYMV isolates were distinguished from WMV-2 by giving only local symptoms on Black Turtle 2 bean and from PRSV-W by giving only local reactions on Chenopodium quinoa. Purification of ZYMV-TS2 yielded 5–22 mg of virus per kilogram of tissue, with a 260/280 nm ratio of 1.23–1.32. Virus-specific polyclonal antibodies capable of detecting ZYMV were produced to ZYMV-TS2 in mice. Unfractionated ascites fluid reached a maximum titer of 1:1,600,000 in indirect ELISA. Serological comparisons using various antisera to ZYMV, PRSV-W, and WMV-2 revealed that ZYMV and WMV-2 cross-reacted strongly with some antisera and not at all with others. No cross-reactions were observed between PRSV-W and WMV-2 or between PRSV-W and ZYMV.