International Journal of Vegetable Science, 15:3–12, 2009 Copyright © Taylor & Francis Group, LLC ISSN: 1931-5260 print / 1931-5279 online DOI: 10.1080/19315260802446351 WIJV 1931-5260 1931-5279 International Journal of Vegetable Science, Vol. 15, No. 1, Oct 2008: pp. 0–0 International Journal of Vegetable Science Reflective Plastic Mulch but not a Resistance-Inducing Treatment Reduced Watermelon Mosaic Virus Incidence and Yield Losses in Squash J. F. Murphy et al. John F. Murphy, 1 Micky D. Eubanks, 2 and Jongkit Masiri 1 1 Department of Entomology and Plant Pathology, Auburn University, Auburn, Alabama 2 Department of Entomology, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas Plant viruses, especially those transmitted by aphids in a nonpersistent manner, cause significant yield losses in cucurbit crops. Studies have shown that UV-reflective mulches can reduce insects from entering a crop with coincidental reductions in virus incidence. Treatment of plants with various forms of resistance-inducing agents have also shown promise for their ability to reduce plant virus incidence and associated losses. In this article, we describe a two-trial study that evaluated the integration of UV-reflective plastic mulch and a commercially available resistance-inducing treat- ment, BioYield™, to reduce the incidence and disease-related yield losses in summer squash [Cucurbita pepo var. melopepo (L.) Alef.] caused by the aphid-borne plant virus, Watermelon mosaic virus (WMV). In the spring trial, there was significantly reduced WMV incidence and whole treatment average enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) values among squash plants grown on silver-on-black (UV-reflective) mulch compared with plants grown on nonreflective black mulch. Significantly greater squash fruit yields were obtained for plants grown on the silver-on-black mulch relative to the black mulch treatment. In the fall trial, highly UV-reflective silver mulch was used in addition to silver-on-black and black mulches. WMV incidence and whole treatment aver- age ELISA values were significantly lower for squash plants in the silver mulch treat- ment compared with silver-on-black and black mulch treatments. The silver-on-black treatment resulted in lower WMV incidence and whole treatment average ELISA Funding was provided by the USDA Southern Region Integrated Pest Management Program, grant no. 2003-334103-13722. Address correspondence to John F. Murphy, Department of Entomology and Plant Pathology, 209 Life Sciences Building, Auburn University, Auburn AL 36849-5413. E-mail: murphjf@auburn.edu