Help. ? Cucumber mosaic virus.

[chickenjane]

If anyone can help me I'd be ever so grateful.
I've got a number of baby squash & pumpkin plants.
6 varieties. I'm afraid I may have cucumber mosaic virus.

All raised in windowsill propagator.
Now in green house at about 3-4 real leaf stage.
some/most have at least one leaf which is mottled with pale greeny-yellow.some have a deformed leaf too.

These are all on older leaves,not on new growth which seems at present to be healthy.( books say it's new growth that's mainly affected so I'm grasping at straws & hoping this is wind or sunlight stress)
the plants themselves are just begining to romp away.Even noticed a tendril on one--so it obviously wants to get going

when they were just doing their first proper leaves I mistakenly thought they'd enjoy some freash air & put them outside for the afternoon.
It was quite breezy & the transpiration stress was too much.they were all wilted over when I found them, but all bar 2 recovered over the next 2 days.

once they were better I moved them to the green house with an upturned seed tray high above to give a bit of light shade.
I removed this about a week ago.

If it is CMV,do I burn the lot?
As winter squash seem to need a long growing season, is it too late to start again(new seed,newcompost new pots etc)?

pics attached. no1=whole plant. no2 & 3 =damaged leaf.no4=newer leaf

[smallblueplanet]

Looks like its due to 'over-cooking them' when young I'd say, we had some similar last year.

[Paulottie]

Hi CJ,

Its a difficult call from here -but my guess is that is mosaic virus. Do you have any aphids on them? they are the usual carriers. They would require burning yes, and you need to wash everything -that is pots, tools, propagator, bench top in a solution of ***** fluid. I would be suspicious of that batch of compost as well.

At the very least do not return them to the vacinity of other plants and always wash your hands until you are convinced it is not. It could just be the poor treatment you gave them you meanie...it often is in these cases but it is still worth being on the safe side and restarting in new pots. Bad luck.

The good news is that you are, by no means, too late to start again. I haven't sown my butternuts and the turks turban and pumkins are at the seed leef stage.

[smallblueplanet]

Well I still think its wind-burn....but you could put them into isolation? Here's a thread from last year, which seems to have similar syptoms?

http://www.growfruitandveg.co.uk/gra...t=mosaic+virus

[Paulottie]

[QUOTE=smallblueplanet;95099]Well I still think its wind-burn....but you could put them into isolation? Here's a thread from last year, which seems to have similar syptoms?

Hope you're right sbp

[chickenjane]

Looks like its due to 'over-cooking them' when young I'd say, we had some similar last year.

that's what I wanted to hear of course, but paulottie as you know thinks otherwise.

Hi CJ,

Its a difficult call from here -but my guess is that is mosaic virus. Do you have any aphids on them? they are the usual carriers.


Well yes I've found 2 green fly on one of them.That was quick work.They would require burning yes, and you need to wash everything -that is pots, tools, propagator, bench top in a solution of ***** fluid. I would be suspicious of that batch of compost as well.
Ah the compost.That was (a possibly false) economy.I bought it unopened in march but it was last years stock ' tub & basket compost' v cheap.

Most relieved that there's still time to start over.
will get propagator etc thoroughly cleaned in preparation.
I reckon I'll give them a few days to see what they do.
diagnosis should become more obvious I spose with time.

Q: should the plants be looking unhappy by now if it is CMV?

At the very least do not return them to the vacinity of other plants and always wash your hands until you are convinced it is not. It could just be the poor treatment you gave them you meanie...it often is in these cases but it is still worth being on the safe side and restarting in new pots. Bad luck.

The good news is that you are, by no means, too late to start again. I haven't sown my butternuts and the turks turban and pumkins are at the seed leef stage.

[smallblueplanet]

I didn't say it because you wanted to hear it.

If you're that bothered start again, there's plenty of time.

[chickenjane]

Well I still think its wind-burn....but you could put them into isolation? Here's a thread from last year, which seems to have similar syptoms?

http://www.growfruitandveg.co.uk/gra...t=mosaic+virus

Thanks for the link sbp.
similar to mine certainly,but not thatsimilar.
oh heck.Got myself all in a tizzy.
it's a bit like suspecting you've got foot & mouth.a death sentence to all around, massive cleansing operation ahead & paranoia for years to come.

[chickenjane]

I didn't say it because you wanted to hear it.

If you're that bothered start again, there's plenty of time.

I know you didn't.

reckon I'll sow the types that i still have seed for, but where do I put them if green house now in isolation .

problems problems.

[nick the grief]

I think it is a deficiency in the compost. After so long the nutrients break down and are now longer there. Try giving them a week feed of Tomato food and see if they start tolook better.

[Paulottie]

Confused?... As i said it would still be worth starting a couple more away from others they will not require a propogator just fresh pots and some compost. And quarentine for the others until your sure i may still be wrong I hope

[chickenjane]

I think it is a deficiency in the compost. After so long the nutrients break down and are now longer there. Try giving them a week feed of Tomato food and see if they start tolook better.

I did wonder that myself,but they've got a generous sprinkle of osmocote on them.

Ah but does that go off? the osmocote must be 5 yrs old.

more & more confusing

[mrskp]

I've had some very odd looking leaves on a number of my babies. The toms, I put my fingers in my ears, closed my eyes, went "la la la la - I can't hear you" and cut off the dodgy leaves. They now look fine.

My courgettes have had similar dodgy patterns but the new leaves seem to be quite green and normal, but my cukes are suffering. I think it's all down to scorching, at least I'm hoping so ! The only greenfly I've spotted is on the chillies which were immediately squished.

The more you know about stuff, the more you worry. I'm becoming a bit of a plantocondriac

[Snadger]

I don't know a lot about viruses in plants, but in humans, if you have a virus your whole body is affected!
Because all the leaves are not affected it could just be a stress thing and I would bet that once the weather warmed up and we get more daylight, it will take care of itself!

[chickenjane]

I've had some very odd looking leaves on a number of my babies. The toms, I put my fingers in my ears, closed my eyes, went "la la la la - I can't hear you" and cut off the dodgy leaves. They now look fine.

My courgettes have had similar dodgy patterns but the new leaves seem to be quite green and normal, but my cukes are suffering. I think it's all down to scorching, at least I'm hoping so ! The only greenfly I've spotted is on the chillies which were immediately squished.

The more you know about stuff, the more you worry. I'm becoming a bit of a plantocondriac

That is just SO true.If I didn't read books I'd think poor things are hungry,wind blown or whatever & carry on in blissful ignorance.

I don't know a lot about viruses in plants, but in humans, if you have a virus your whole body is affected!
Because all the leaves are not affected it could just be a stress thing and I would bet that once the weather warmed up and we get more daylight, it will take care of itself!

Lovely analogy Snadger.
what happens to all the lovely rich green new leaves over the next few days will decide if it's plant or burn for the lttle mites.

Maybe I should rename my self plantochondriac.
Never used to be so neurotic about veggies.Win some /lose some.
Maybe it's knowing that the planet is dying that makes me hype sensitive to any thing bad.
sorry..not relevant