this post was submitted on 13 Sep 2024
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Mildly Interesting

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

J.D., is that you?

[–] [email protected] 10 points 3 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

[–] [email protected] 3 points 3 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?

[–] [email protected] 7 points 3 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 3 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?

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

Ah that makes sense, thanks for the detailed write up

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

that's what they want you to believe

[–] [email protected] 23 points 3 months ago (2 children)

Actually this was foretold 5000yrs ago in Ireland.

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

Hail Spud-tan

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

The legends were true!

[–] [email protected] 16 points 3 months ago

A melon of pure evil.

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

That is one theory where viruses came from.

[–] [email protected] 4 points 3 months ago

"Language is a virus from outer space"

-William Burroughs

[–] [email protected] 10 points 3 months ago
[–] [email protected] 9 points 3 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.

[–] [email protected] 9 points 3 months ago

Water water no mi

[–] [email protected] 9 points 3 months ago
[–] [email protected] 7 points 3 months ago

Uzumaki vibes

[–] [email protected] 7 points 3 months ago

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

[–] [email protected] 5 points 3 months ago
[–] [email protected] 3 points 3 months ago
[–] [email protected] 3 points 3 months ago

I think it's trying to communicate.

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

Aliens landed there. Smaller spaceship than i had expected

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

Giedi Prime melon.

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

that's pretty wicked

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

Looks like a miniature planet

[–] Assman 2 points 3 months ago

Looks like the opening scene of star wars episode 3