Biological and Serological Characterization of Zucchini Yellow Mosaic and Watermelon Mosaic Virus-2 Isolates in Israel

Cucurbit potyviruses were collected in the field in Israel and subcultured in indicator plants in a greenhouse. Partial characterization of the Israeli cucurbit potyviruses was done on the basis of host reaction using cucurbits, peas andChenopodium spp. as hosts. Further classification of potyviruses was done by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and serological specific electron microscopy (SSEM). By these methods it was possible to identify three of the four isolates as strains of the zucchini yellow mosaic virus, while the fourth was identified as watermelon mosaic virus-2. Two of the ZYMV isolates were nonaphid-transmissible following prolonged mechanical transmission in a greenhouse. Both of these isolates were found to produce helper components capable of assisting the transmission of virions from a transmissible isolate but not those of their own.