EPPO Global Database

EPPO Reporting Service no. 03 - 1996 Num. article: 1996/54

New geminivirus of tomato in Mexico


Tomatoes grown in the Culiacan Valley of north-western Mexico are affected by numerous diseases caused by whitefly-transmitted geminiviruses. During the last two growing seasons, one disease became prevalent. Symptoms are characterized by vein yellowing and chlorosis of newly infected leaves, purple discoloration of older leaves, stunting and distorted growth. It was found that the disease is due to a geminivirus, but specific DNA probes for tomato yellow leaf curl (EPPO A2 quarantine pest), tomato mottle (EU Annex I/A1) and tomato leaf crumple geminiviruses failed to detect it. Further comparative studies demonstrated that this virus is distinct from previously characterized whitefly-transmitted geminiviruses.

Sources

Gilbertson, R.L.; Hou, Y.M.; Guzman, P.; Carvalho, M.G. (1995) A new geminivirus associated with chlorosis of tomatoes in northwestern Mexico.
Abstracts of presentations made at the 1995 APS annual meeting, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, 1995-09-12/16.
Phytopathology, 85(10), p 1138.