Infestation of the cucumber mosaic virus generally occurs during the warm growing season, especially at the beginning of summer when aphid populations, the virus vectors, are abundant.
Damage Symptoms:
Leaves appear mottled with light and dark green or yellow areas, accompanied by marked distortion of the leaf and reduced growth.
The development of fruits becomes abnormal, leading to deformed, distorted, and very small cucumbers.
Plant leaves may become smaller in size under severe conditions, and the plant appears bushy, with fruits cracking.
The virus is predominantly spread by aphid vectors, but mechanical dissemination through tools and hands also occurs.
Preventive Method:
Plant four rows of barrier crops such as maize.
Control Measures:
Install yellow sticky traps to monitor aphid infestations.
Apply Cypermethrin or Chlorpyrifos to control aphids.
