From

Location

Message

Date Posted

Monrovia, CA

Greetings everyone!! This year's pumpkin growing efforts saw the return of mosaic virus in our patch. The fruits themselves did not seem to be affected (there were no warts on them nor were they misshapen) Can the seeds be used? Does mosaic actually make it into the seeds?

I will be solarizing like crazy for next year to get rid of the problem.

Thanks!
Michelle

12/4/2009 10:53:52 AM

Good question Michelle,

here is a good read from the U of MN:

http://www.extension.umn.edu/distribution/horticulture/DG1172.html


apparently "squash mosaic" can transfer on seed,in the other 4 it is a rare occurance.

12/4/2009 11:18:36 AM

Eastern Washington State

Michelle,

The Mosaic viruses are transmitted by sap-feeding insects like aphids that come in from other surrounding plants that are infected (not necessarily squash). Maybe establishing a spray perimeter might help?

12/4/2009 1:19:47 PM

Eastern Washington State

Cool site, Dan!

12/4/2009 1:25:34 PM

Monrovia, CA

That was one of the most imformative articles I've read on the subject...thank you! Now do you suppose there's such a thing as a tissue sample test for a seed. If I sent one to a lab would the virus be detected? I can do alot of prevention for next season but would really like to know if one pumpkin in particular was affected because I'd like to try the cross next year.
Thank you again for the comments!
Michelle

12/4/2009 5:58:26 PM

that would be worth making a few calls about to various University plant pathology labs

I have contact here with the UW lab I'll run it past them, always very helpfull in the past. I should know next early next week.

12/4/2009 7:27:37 PM

[email protected]

The seeds are OK. 90% of all Mosaic is vectored by aphids that pick up the virus from some perennial plant within 2 miles of your patch. Since aphids can vector the infection within 6 seconds, you'd need to be able to kill them faster. That's not possible so try Garlic Barrier to repel them instead. Nontoxic, fairly cheap, & repels cuke beetles too.

12/4/2009 7:31:54 PM

Sequim, WA

To follow up on what Tremor said, you can plant dahlias around the patch and attract the aphids to the flowers. They also pick up the cucumber beetles. If you can't repel them you can at least attract them to another host.

12/4/2009 11:09:44 PM

Minnesota([email protected])

I didn't know that Tiller...thanks!
Do sunflowers do the same thing? It seems I heard cuke beetles like sunflowers? Would they attract aphids as well?

12/4/2009 11:48:15 PM

Anchorage, Alaska

Then you spray the other host with uranium!

12/5/2009 12:54:03 AM

Monrovia, CA

Fantastic! Thank you Dan! I'll contact A&L West to see if they can enlighten as well. Interesting about the plant barriers...worth a try! Tremor, I'm going to harvest the seeds for sure...I do want to try the one next season. I can't thank all of you enough!!
Michelle

12/5/2009 11:07:42 AM