Detection and Molecular Characterization of Viral Agents Infecting Cucurbits from South Marmara Region in Türkiye

Münevver Şimşek; Savaş Korkmaz

doi:10.47947/ijnls.1825395

Detection and Molecular Characterization of Viral Agents Infecting Cucurbits from South Marmara Region in Türkiye

Abstract

Although cucurbit viruses have been widely investigated throughout different regions of Turkey, studies focusing on the molecular characterization of isolates from the South Marmara Region (SMR) are still scarce. To expand the current understanding of cucurbit viral diseases, a total of 76 leaf samples exhibiting virus-like symptoms were obtained from different cultivated cucurbit species in the provinces of Balıkesir, Bursa, and Çanakkale. These samples were screened for seven cucurbit-infecting viruses previously documented in Türkiye by employing reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Among the tested samples, 52 were determined to be infected with at least one viral agent. The viruses identified included zucchini yellow mosaic virus (ZYMV), watermelon mosaic virus (WMV), and cucumber mosaic virus (CMV), while cucumber green mottle mosaic virus (CGMMV), cucumber vein yellowing virus (CVYV), cucurbit yellow stunting disorder virus (CYSDV), and cucurbit chlorotic yellows virus (CCYV) were not detected in any tested samples. Among the detected viruses, ZYMV was the most prevalent (34.21%), whereas CMV exhibited the lowest incidence (2.63%). The prevalence of WMV was found to be 14.47%. The most frequent symptom associated with infection was mosaic-type chlorotic mottling on the leaves. For further molecular characterization, nine representative isolates (three from each detected virus) were selected, and their coat protein gene sequences were determined. Comparative sequence analysis demonstrated that Turkish isolates shared 95–97% nucleotide identity with each other but differed by up to 10% when compared with reference isolates from other geographical regions. Phylogenetic reconstruction revealed that ZYMV isolates clustered closely within a single lineage, while WMV and CMV isolates were separated into multiple phylogenetic groups, suggesting distinct evolutionary histories. Overall, this research constitutes the first molecular characterization of ZYMV and WMV isolates from the South Marmara Region, thereby providing new insights into cucurbit virus diversity and epidemiology in Türkiye.

Keywords

Supporting Institution

This study was supported by a grant from Çanakkale Onsekiz Mart University

Project Number

FYL-2023-4397

Ethical Statement

Authors declare that there is no conflict of interests

Thanks

This study was supported by a grant from Çanakkale Onsekiz Mart University, The Scientific Research Coordination Unit, Project number FYL-2023-4397.

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Details

Primary Language

English

Subjects

Microbiology (Other)

Journal Section

Research Article

Authors

Münevver Şimşek
0000-0003-3611-933X
Türkiye

Savaş Korkmaz ^*
0000-0001-8227-3800
Türkiye

Early Pub Date

December 8, 2025

Publication Date

December 30, 2025

Submission Date

November 18, 2025

Acceptance Date

December 3, 2025

Published in Issue

Year 2025 Volume: 9 Number: 2

DOI

https://doi.org/10.47947/ijnls.1825395

IZ

https://izlik.org/JA26YF79DD

Cite

RIS / Bibtex

APA

Şimşek, M., & Korkmaz, S. (2025). Detection and Molecular Characterization of Viral Agents Infecting Cucurbits from South Marmara Region in Türkiye. International Journal of Nature and Life Sciences, 9(2), 90-97. https://doi.org/10.47947/ijnls.1825395

AMA

1.Şimşek M, Korkmaz S. Detection and Molecular Characterization of Viral Agents Infecting Cucurbits from South Marmara Region in Türkiye. Int J Nature Life Sci. 2025;9(2):90-97. doi:10.47947/ijnls.1825395

Chicago

Şimşek, Münevver, and Savaş Korkmaz. 2025. “Detection and Molecular Characterization of Viral Agents Infecting Cucurbits from South Marmara Region in Türkiye”. International Journal of Nature and Life Sciences 9 (2): 90-97. https://doi.org/10.47947/ijnls.1825395.

EndNote

Şimşek M, Korkmaz S (December 1, 2025) Detection and Molecular Characterization of Viral Agents Infecting Cucurbits from South Marmara Region in Türkiye. International Journal of Nature and Life Sciences 9 2 90–97.

IEEE

[1]M. Şimşek and S. Korkmaz, “Detection and Molecular Characterization of Viral Agents Infecting Cucurbits from South Marmara Region in Türkiye”, Int J Nature Life Sci, vol. 9, no. 2, pp. 90–97, Dec. 2025, doi: 10.47947/ijnls.1825395.

ISNAD

Şimşek, Münevver - Korkmaz, Savaş. “Detection and Molecular Characterization of Viral Agents Infecting Cucurbits from South Marmara Region in Türkiye”. International Journal of Nature and Life Sciences 9/2 (December 1, 2025): 90-97. https://doi.org/10.47947/ijnls.1825395.

JAMA

1.Şimşek M, Korkmaz S. Detection and Molecular Characterization of Viral Agents Infecting Cucurbits from South Marmara Region in Türkiye. Int J Nature Life Sci. 2025;9:90–97.

MLA

Şimşek, Münevver, and Savaş Korkmaz. “Detection and Molecular Characterization of Viral Agents Infecting Cucurbits from South Marmara Region in Türkiye”. International Journal of Nature and Life Sciences, vol. 9, no. 2, Dec. 2025, pp. 90-97, doi:10.47947/ijnls.1825395.

Vancouver

1.Münevver Şimşek, Savaş Korkmaz. Detection and Molecular Characterization of Viral Agents Infecting Cucurbits from South Marmara Region in Türkiye. Int J Nature Life Sci. 2025 Dec. 1;9(2):90-7. doi:10.47947/ijnls.1825395