September 20, 2004
From: ProMED-mail<promed@promedmail.org>
Source:  Australasian Plant Pathology, New Disease Notes [edited] <http://www.australasianplantpathologysociety.org.au/>

First record of Cowpea mild mottle virus in bean crops in Argentina

PE Rodriguez Pardina, GA Truol, PS Herrera, IG Laguna, Intituto de Fitopathologia y Fisiologia Vegetal [IFFIVE]-INTA, Cordoba, Argentina; JD Arneodo, (as for Pardina, Consejo Nacional de Investiganciones Cientificas y Tecnicas [CONICET], Argentina. Australasian Plant Pathology 33(1): 129-30. Corresponding author: <glaguna@correo.inta.gov.ar>

Cowpea mild mottle carlavirus (CPMMV) has been detected for the 1st time in infected bean crops (_Phaseolus vulgaris_) in the bean-producing region of Argentina (Province of Salta). Virus particles are filamentous (ca 650 nm) and its physicochemical properties are typical of other carlaviruses, with one major distinction in that it is transmitted in a non-persistent manner by whiteflies (_Bemisa tabaci_). Other viruses known in the region include
bean common mosaic potyvirus, bean dwarf mosaic geminivirus, cucumber mosaic cucumovirus, and a strain of bean golden mosaic begominivirus. The results confirm the presence of CPMMV in Argentina for the 1st time. Spread of CPMMV may be assisted by high densities of _B. tabaci_.

[There are 4 classes of plant virus transmission by Homopteran insects; 1) non-persistently transmitted (styletborne [NP]), 2) semi-persistently transmitted (foregutborne [SP]), 3) circulative-persistent (CP), and 4)
propagative-persistent (PP). Vector transmission of CPMMV by _Bemisia tabaci_ [Bt] appears to be due to virus contamination of the stylet and/or the foregut following feeding on infected plants. High densities of Bt would likely increase the rate of transmission. CPMMV is also transmitted mechanically, and some isolates are transmitted by seed. The virus has been reported from Asia, Africa, Brazil, and Oceania but is not reported from EU countries to date. It appears to be unrelated to known members of the Carlavirus genus. It primarily infects tropical field crops. Its quarantine pest status in EU countries is very minor, if not doubtful.

Reference: <http://www.eppo.org/QUARANTINE/virus/Cowpea_mild_mottle/CPMMV0_ds.pdf> - Mod.DH]