Another whitefly-transmitted virus recently identified in south Texas is the cucurbit yellow stunt disorder virus, which causes a yellowing of leaves (Image 4).
The squash leaf curl virus is economically important only in fall-grown watermelons. To alleviate the impact on yield, transplants should be used, rather than direct-seeded plants. Fields should be plowed under after harvest to minimize carryover of the virus to subsequent crops. The virus can persist in whiteflies for 3 weeks after feeding on infected plants, so there should be a 4 week break between melon crops.