Production of sugar beet, the most important source of sugar in Syria, has suffered from many problems in the past, especially from diseases. No previous surveys have been made in Syria for viral diseases and soil‐borne fungi of sugar beet. In 1998, samples were collected from plants showing symptoms of virus infection (yellowing, wilting, necrosis and mosaic). Root samples (341) were collected from crops of autumn‐sown seed from 115 localities in seven provinces, 173 root samples from spring‐sown crops and 39 leaf samples were collected during both seasons. The root samples were tested for the presence of viruses by double antibody sandwich‐enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and triple antibody sandwich‐ELISA, and for soil‐borne fungi by red plate (Rose Bengal) dishes. We have shown for the first time the presence of Beet necrotic yellow vein virus, Beet soil‐borne virus, Beet yellows virus and Beet mild yellowing virus in Syrian sugar beet fields in which Rhizoctonia sp. and Fusarium sp. were also widely distributed.

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Mouhanna, A.M. 2018. Primary evaluation of Acibenzolar-S-Methyl (ASM) efficiency on vegetative parameters and resistance responses of tomato and eggplant to root-knot nematode Meloidogyne incognita.

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Mouhanna, A.M., A.A. Ali Hasan and H.N.H. Alobaidi. 2021. Detection and Molecular Characterization of Watermelon Mosaic Virus (WMV) Spread Along the Syrian Coast. Arab Journal of Plant Protection, 39(1): 47-54. Identification of local isolates of Watermelon mosaic virus (WMV) was investigated using serological and molecular methods. A total of 293 leaf samples from watermelon, zucchini, pumpkin, cucumber, pepper, beans and potato, with symptoms suggestive of virus infection, were collected from fields in two Syrian governorates (Latakia, Tartus) along the Syrian coast. DAS-ELISA tests revealed the presence of WMV in watermelon, zucchini, pumpkin and cucumber samples, with an average relative incidence of 36.95, 26.31, 29.27 and 37.70%, respectively. The infection of pepper with Watermelon mosaic virus was reported for the first time in Syria, with an average relative incidence of 2.94%. WMV was not detected in potato and beans, and these results were confirmed by RT-PCR. The local WMV isolate Cu4 was grouped with an Iranian isolate [EU660584.1] with 98.9% sequence identity. A Turkish isolate [EU660579] was grouped with local WMV isolate Wa2 with 98.3% sequence identity. Furthermore, two local isolates Zu6 and Cu8 represented one sub-group with 99.3% sequence identity. Keywords: Watermelon mosaic virus, DAS-ELISA, RT-PCR, CI, Phylogenetic Tree.