this post was submitted on 13 Sep 2024
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Mildly Interesting

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[–] [email protected] 49 points 2 months ago (3 children)
[–] [email protected] 11 points 2 months ago (1 children)
[–] Mbourgon 4 points 2 months ago

J.D., is that you?

[–] The_v 10 points 2 months ago (1 children)

The Wikipedia picture is misidentified, kindof.

So there were two mosaic virus discovered in watermelons. The first one discovered was called watermelon mosaic virus. The second one was called watermelon mosaic virus 2 (WMV-2).

Now as molecular technics advanced it was discovered that the the first WMV virus was the same as Papaya Ring Spot Virus (PRSV)

Since the PRSV name for the virus was older, it was kept. WMV-2 then was renamed to WMV.

So that is most likely PRSV aka the old WMV. WMV (aka WMV-2) rarely causes ringspots.

http://ncsupdicblog.blogspot.com/2011/11/sample-of-week-papaya-ringspot-virus-on.html?m=1

[–] noughtnaut 3 points 2 months ago (1 children)

You seem knowledgeable in this matter, so let me ask you: is this harmful to humans? What is the harm of this watermelon virus?

[–] The_v 7 points 2 months ago (1 children)

No it is not harmful to humans. This virus like most others others like it only infect plants. It is transmitted by aphids. So it survives inside of them but doesn't replicate.

In watermelons it damages the new growth, especially the leaves. This reduces the plants ability to phosynthesize sugars and stops fruit production.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 2 months ago (1 children)

So I’m popping in this thread to ask how does the virus survive if it kills? Is the plan to spread before that happens?

[–] The_v 3 points 2 months ago (1 children)

PRSV doesn't immediately kill the plant. It kills it slowly over quite some time. It replicates in the growing point of the plant. This conveniently is the same location where aphids feed.

The aphids then transfer the virus to a new plant. Plant viruses have a wide range of host species and they move around with their vectors.

For more information, Here is an excellent write up on the virus.

https://www.apsnet.org/edcenter/disandpath/viral/pdlessons/Pages/PapayaRingspotvirus.aspx

[–] [email protected] 1 points 2 months ago

Ah that makes sense, thanks for the detailed write up

[–] MissJinx 2 points 2 months ago

that's what they want you to believe

[–] Hamartia 23 points 2 months ago (2 children)

Actually this was foretold 5000yrs ago in Ireland.

[–] [email protected] 10 points 2 months ago (1 children)
[–] Hamartia 3 points 2 months ago

Hail Spud-tan

[–] homesweethomeMrL 3 points 2 months ago

The legends were true!

[–] aeronmelon 16 points 2 months ago

A melon of pure evil.

[–] [email protected] 14 points 2 months ago (1 children)
[–] Tikiporch 3 points 2 months ago (1 children)

That is one theory where viruses came from.

[–] homesweethomeMrL 4 points 2 months ago

"Language is a virus from outer space"

-William Burroughs

[–] MumboJumbo 10 points 2 months ago
[–] [email protected] 9 points 2 months ago

Water water no mi

[–] [email protected] 9 points 2 months ago

Some alien intern got confused and thought drawing crop circles was supposed to be done on the crops rather than in the fields of crops.

[–] _stranger_ 9 points 2 months ago
[–] dessimbelackis 7 points 2 months ago

Eat it and gain superpowers, but lose your ability to swim

[–] [email protected] 7 points 2 months ago

Uzumaki vibes

[–] grue 5 points 2 months ago
[–] RememberTheApollo_ 3 points 2 months ago

Giedi Prime melon.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 2 months ago

that's pretty wicked

[–] [email protected] 3 points 2 months ago

Aliens landed there. Smaller spaceship than i had expected

[–] Diplomjodler3 3 points 2 months ago

I think it's trying to communicate.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 2 months ago
[–] [email protected] 3 points 2 months ago
[–] [email protected] 2 points 2 months ago

Looks like the opening scene of star wars episode 3