this post was submitted on 13 Sep 2024
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Mildly Interesting

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This is for strictly mildly interesting material. If it's too interesting, it doesn't belong. If it's not interesting, it doesn't belong.

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[–] Justas@sh.itjust.works 49 points 3 weeks ago (3 children)
[–] Imgonnatrythis@sh.itjust.works 11 points 3 weeks ago (1 children)
[–] Mbourgon@lemmy.world 4 points 3 weeks ago

J.D., is that you?

[–] The_v@lemmy.world 10 points 3 weeks 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@lemmy.world 3 points 3 weeks 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@lemmy.world 7 points 3 weeks 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.

[–] FlihpFlorp@lemm.ee 1 points 3 weeks 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@lemmy.world 3 points 3 weeks 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

[–] FlihpFlorp@lemm.ee 1 points 3 weeks ago

Ah that makes sense, thanks for the detailed write up

[–] MissJinx@lemmy.world 2 points 3 weeks ago

that's what they want you to believe

[–] Hamartia@lemmy.world 23 points 3 weeks ago (2 children)

Actually this was foretold 5000yrs ago in Ireland.

[–] Someonelol@lemmy.dbzer0.com 10 points 3 weeks ago (1 children)
[–] Hamartia@lemmy.world 3 points 3 weeks ago

Hail Spud-tan

[–] homesweethomeMrL@lemmy.world 3 points 3 weeks ago

The legends were true!

[–] aeronmelon@lemmy.world 16 points 3 weeks ago

A melon of pure evil.

[–] Fester@lemm.ee 14 points 3 weeks ago (1 children)
[–] Tikiporch@lemmy.world 3 points 3 weeks ago (1 children)

That is one theory where viruses came from.

[–] homesweethomeMrL@lemmy.world 4 points 3 weeks ago

"Language is a virus from outer space"

-William Burroughs

[–] MumboJumbo@lemmy.world 10 points 3 weeks ago
[–] _stranger_@lemmy.world 9 points 3 weeks ago
[–] Ponchy@lemm.ee 9 points 3 weeks ago

Water water no mi

[–] Fermion@feddit.nl 9 points 3 weeks 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.

[–] dessimbelackis@lemmy.world 8 points 3 weeks ago

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

[–] Pechente@feddit.org 7 points 3 weeks ago

Uzumaki vibes

[–] grue@lemmy.world 5 points 3 weeks ago
[–] Diplomjodler3@lemmy.world 3 points 3 weeks ago

I think it's trying to communicate.

[–] nightwatch_admin@feddit.nl 3 points 3 weeks ago

Aliens landed there. Smaller spaceship than i had expected

[–] gon@lemm.ee 3 points 3 weeks ago

that's pretty wicked

[–] RememberTheApollo_@lemmy.world 3 points 3 weeks ago

Giedi Prime melon.

[–] some_guy@lemmy.sdf.org 3 points 3 weeks ago
[–] Assman@sh.itjust.works 2 points 3 weeks ago

Looks like the opening scene of star wars episode 3