First report of Tomato yellow leaf curl Sardinia virus in Greece
In Greece, the presence of Tomato yellow leaf curl virus (Begomovirus, TYLCV – EPPO A2 List*) was reported in 2000 on tomatoes in Crete, southern Peloponese and Attiki (EPPO RS 2001/107). In summer 2005, a high percentage of tomato protected crops in Crete and southern Peloponese showed severe symptoms of tomato yellow leaf curl disease (stunting, leaf curling, yellowing). High populations of Bemisia tabaci were present in greenhouses and open fields of tomatoes. Molecular tests (PCR, RFLP) were carried out on symptomatic samples and revealed the presence of Tomato yellow leaf curl Sardinia virus (TYLCSV). TYLCSV was found in all studied sites in Peloponese and 2 sites from Crete (Mires, Tympaki). All tested isolates from Ierapetra (Crete) were identified as TYLCV. These results show that both TYLCV and TYLCSV occur in Greece. The two virus species co-exist in Crete, whereas in Peloponese only TYLCSV was detected. This is the first report of TYLCSV in Greece.
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* At present, only Tomato yellow leaf curl virus is listed as such but with the description of several virus species involved in tomato yellow leaf curl disease, this entry may need to be revised.
Sources
Papayiannis LC, Avgelis AD, Ioannou N, Katis NI (2007) First report of Tomato yellow leaf curl Sardinia virus (TYLCSV) infecting tomato crops in Greece. Plant Pathology 56(2), p 341.