Watermelon necrosis caused by a strain of melon necrotic spot virus

A severe disease of watermelon (Citrullus vulgaris) grown in plastic houses in Crete, was characterized by leaf and stem necrosis followed by death of the plants. A strain of melon necrotic spot virus (MNSV) was identified as the causal agent of the disease on the basis of biological, morphological and serological properties. The watermelon strain of MNSV induced only local necrotic lesions in melon and cucumber plants and was serologically distinct from MNSV Cretan isolate. Gomphrena globosa was found a useful herbaceous host for differentiating it from common isolates of MNSV.