First report of Tomato infectious chlorosis crinivirus in France and current situation of Tomato chlorosis crinivirus
In France since 2002, yellowing symptoms associated with high levels of whitefly populations have been observed in tomato plants grown under protected conditions. Populations of Trialeurodes vaporariorum were generally abundant in spring and then Bemisia tabaci populations became predominant in summer and autumn. Studies were carried out on the occurrence of Tomato infectious chlorosis crinivirus (TICV - EPPO Alert List) and Tomato chlorosis crinivirus (ToCV - EPPO Action List/A2). During 2002-2004, 696 samples were collected from the major tomato-growing areas in France (573 from south and 123 from north of France) and tested by PCR. The presence of ToCV was detected in a total of 178 samples collected in 2002, 2003 and in 2004 from southern France, but not in samples from the northern part. The presence of TICV was tested on 485 samples and it was found only in 2 samples collected from Nice in 2003. This is the first record of TICV in France. These results suggest that ToCV is now well established in southern France but absent from the north, and that TICV is still not yet established in France. It is considered that this difference is most probably associated with vector specificity, as ToCV is transmitted by both T. vaporariorum and B. tabaci, and TICV only by T. vaporariorum.
The situation of Tomato chlorosis crinivirus in France can be described as follows: Present, established only in the south of France.
The situation of Tomato infectious chlorosis crinivirus in France can be described as follows: Present, first found in 2003 near Nice on a few cases (2 samples).
Sources
Dalmon A, Boyer S, Cailly M, Girard M, Lecoq H, Desbiez C, Jacquemond M (2005) First report of Tomato chlorosis virus and Tomato infectious chlorosis virus in tomato crops in France.
Plant Disease 89(11), p 1242.