Emerging Viruses Associated with Chayote (Sechium edule): Current Knowledge, Perspectives, Insights, Challenges, and...

Chayote (Sechium edule) is an important cucurbit crop grown in tropical and subtropical climates for its edible fruits, shoots, and roots. Its production faces growing threats from various viral pathogens, including Tomato leaf curl New Delhi virus, Squash leaf curl Philippines virus, Zucchini yellow mosaic virus, and Tomato spotted wilt virus which are in emerging trend. The viruses spread by vectors such as whiteflies, aphids, and thrips are predominant in agroecosystems where chayote is grown. Viral infection can cause symptoms such as mosaic patterns, leaf curling, stunting, and necrosis, potentially incur considerable yield loss. Growing popularity of the crop and advances in experimental knowledge demands a critical evaluation that may help improving crop resilience against the current problems associated with chayote cultivation. This review gathers current information on viruses affecting chayote, their distribution, transmission, host range, and symptoms, while pointing out important gaps and future research needs.