Whitefly-borne viruses are closing in on chayote crops
Roy B, Roy A, Mondal B, Sherpa AR, Sultana S
Crop Improvement
If you grow chayote (also called christophine or mirliton) on a trellis in your garden, the same whiteflies and aphids bothering your tomatoes can spread viruses that stunt vines and disfigure fruit before you notice anything's wrong.
Chayote is a vining squash relative grown for its fruit, shoots, and roots across warm climates worldwide. Scientists reviewed the viruses now threatening it, including ones causing curled leaves, mosaic-patterned foliage, and stunted growth, and found that tiny insects like whiteflies, aphids, and thrips are the main culprits spreading them between plants. The review flags real gaps in understanding these diseases and calls for more research to protect the crop's future.
Key Findings
Four emerging viruses were identified as key threats to chayote: Tomato leaf curl New Delhi virus, Squash leaf curl Philippines virus, Zucchini yellow mosaic virus, and Tomato spotted wilt virus.
Whiteflies, aphids, and thrips are the primary insect vectors spreading these viruses through chayote agroecosystems.
Infected plants show mosaic patterns, leaf curling, stunting, and necrosis, which can cause significant yield loss.
chevron_right Technical Summary
A review of chayote, the pear-shaped squash also known as christophine, warns that several viruses spread by whiteflies, aphids, and thrips are increasingly threatening the crop worldwide, causing leaf curling, mosaic patterns, and yield loss.
Abstract Preview
Original paper
Emerging Viruses Associated with Chayote (Sechium edule): Current Knowledge, Perspectives, Insights, Challenges, and Future Directions.
Chayote (Sechium edule) is an important cucurbit crop grown in tropical and subtropical climates for its edible fruits, shoots, and roots. Its production faces growing threats from various viral pa...
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