this post was submitted on 13 Sep 2024
193 points (97.1% liked)

Mildly Interesting

17334 readers
3 users here now

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.

This is obviously an objective criteria, so the mods are always right. Or maybe mildly right? Ahh.. what do we know?

Just post some stuff and don't spam.

founded 1 year ago
MODERATORS
 
top 32 comments
sorted by: hot top controversial new old
[–] Justas@sh.itjust.works 49 points 1 month ago (3 children)
[–] Imgonnatrythis@sh.itjust.works 11 points 1 month ago (1 children)
[–] Mbourgon@lemmy.world 4 points 1 month ago

J.D., is that you?

[–] The_v@lemmy.world 10 points 1 month 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 1 month 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 1 month 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 1 month 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 1 month 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 1 month ago

Ah that makes sense, thanks for the detailed write up

[–] MissJinx@lemmy.world 2 points 1 month ago

that's what they want you to believe

[–] Hamartia@lemmy.world 23 points 1 month ago (2 children)

Actually this was foretold 5000yrs ago in Ireland.

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

Hail Spud-tan

[–] homesweethomeMrL@lemmy.world 3 points 1 month ago

The legends were true!

[–] aeronmelon@lemmy.world 16 points 1 month ago

A melon of pure evil.

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

That is one theory where viruses came from.

[–] homesweethomeMrL@lemmy.world 4 points 1 month ago

"Language is a virus from outer space"

-William Burroughs

[–] MumboJumbo@lemmy.world 10 points 1 month ago
[–] Fermion@feddit.nl 9 points 1 month 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_@lemmy.world 9 points 1 month ago
[–] Ponchy@lemm.ee 9 points 1 month ago

Water water no mi

[–] dessimbelackis@lemmy.world 7 points 1 month ago

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

[–] Pechente@feddit.org 7 points 1 month ago

Uzumaki vibes

[–] grue@lemmy.world 5 points 1 month ago
[–] gon@lemm.ee 3 points 1 month ago

that's pretty wicked

[–] Diplomjodler3@lemmy.world 3 points 1 month ago

I think it's trying to communicate.

[–] nightwatch_admin@feddit.nl 3 points 1 month ago

Aliens landed there. Smaller spaceship than i had expected

[–] RememberTheApollo_@lemmy.world 3 points 1 month ago

Giedi Prime melon.

[–] some_guy@lemmy.sdf.org 3 points 1 month ago
[–] Assman@sh.itjust.works 2 points 1 month ago

Looks like the opening scene of star wars episode 3