Cucumber mosaic virus infection of chickpea stands:: temporal and spatial patterns of spread and yield-limiting potential

Patterns of spread and yield losses were examined when migrant aphid vectors transmitted Cucumber mosaic virus (CMV) within chickpea (Cicer arietinum) plots. When numbers of chickpea plant infection foci were varied to provide initial infection incidences of 0.3-2%, rate of virus spread and its final incidence increased in proportion to initial virus incidence and pathogen progress curves reflected a polycyclic pattern of spread. Chickpea seed yields decreased by 44-45% when CMV incidence reached 61-74% at final assessment in plots with simulated 1-2% initial incidence. In chickpea plots with or without introduced lupin plant infection foci, cumulative spatial data for diseased plants were assessed using spatial analysis by distance indices (SADIE). When CMV spread within a plot, infection was concentrated in large patch clusters and was consistent with comprehensive localized spread around primary infection foci. When introduced infection foci were absent, there was more diffuse spread with many isolated clusters. In individual plants that developed CMV symptoms at different growth stages, shoot and pod dry weight were reduced by 60-65% and 77-79% (early infection) and 44 and 66% (late infection), respectively. Seed yield losses were 78-80% (early) and 65-67% (late), and reduction in 50-seed weight was 20-25% regardless of time of infection, so seed number was reduced more by early than late infection. Infection also reduced seed quality as, in addition to smaller seed size, seed coats were discoloured and malformed: the proportions of malformed seeds were 9-11% (early), 3-6% (late) and 0.5% (healthy).