Contact Us
University of California Cooperative Extension Ventura County
669 County Square Drive, Suite 100
Ventura, CA 93003
Phone: 805.645.1451
Fax: 805.645.1474
Office Hours:
Monday - Friday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
The office will be closed for the following holidays:
March 29 – Ceaser Chavez Day
May 27 – Memorial Day
June 19 – Juneteenth
July 4 - Independence Day
Squash Virus
There are many plant viruses, and often the symptom expression of a virus is a mottled light and dark green color pattern in the leaves, especially the new growth. The leaves may be deformed and reduced in size. The fruit may also show mottled coloring and may become deformed, depending on the virus present. Most squash viruses are transmitted to the plant by aphids from wild host plants or other plants in your neighborhood.
Here on the Central Coast Cucumber Mosaic Virus is very common.
There is no cure. Once infected, the plant will retain the virus until it dies. Severely affected plants should be destroyed, as they will not produce a useable harvest. If the plant was not infected until fruit production started, the crop will be reduced, but the fruit is still safe to eat even though it looks a bit strange.