Further studies on Tomato apical stunt viroid
In Israel, Tomato apical stunt viroid (Pospiviroid, TASVd – EPPO Alert List) is reported to cause a severe disease of glasshouse tomatoes. Studies have showed that TASVd is not transmitted by Myzus persicae or Bemisia tabaci, but by bumble bees. It was also found that the viroid is seed-transmitted. TASVd was detected in embryonic tissues of tomato seeds originating from TASVd-infected plants. Transmission rates through seeds could reach 80 % when plants were infected at an early stage. It is suggested that seeds play a major role in the viroid transmission within tomato crops, followed by mechanical contact which is enhanced by workers and pollination activities of bumble bees.
Sources
Antignus Y, Pearlsman M, Lachman O, Feigelson F (2006) Tomato apical stunt viroid (TASVd), a pathogen of greenhouse tomatoes in Israel is seedborne and transmitted by bumble bees. Phytoparasitica 34(3), 306-307.