TaqMan real-time PCR for detection and quantitation of squash leaf curl virus in cucurbits

► A real-time PCR assay based on the TaqMan chemistry was developed for detection and quantitation of squash leaf curl virus (SLCV) in melon and squash plants. ► This method was highly specific to SLCV and it was about one thousand times more sensitive than the conventional PCR method. ► The protocol of real-time PCR established in this study enabled detection of as little as 102 copies of SLCV DNA with the CP gene as the target.