First report of Tomato chlorosis virus in potato in Brazil
In June 2011, potato plants (Solanum tuberosum cv. ‘Agata’) showing symptoms of leaf rolling and interveinal chlorosis were observed in a commercial crop in the county of Cristalina, State of Goiás, in Brazil. These symptoms were mainly observed on older potato leaves, and the crop was also heavily infested by Bemisia tabaci biotype B. Four potato tubers taken from symptomatic plants were tested for the presence of the following viruses: Tomato chlorosis virus (Crinivirus, ToCV – EPPO A2 List), Potato leafroll virus (Polerovirus, PLRV), Tomato severe rugose virus (Begomovirus, ToSRV) and Potato virus Y (Potyvirus, PVY). The presence of ToCV was detected in 3 tubers (RT-PCR, nested-PCR, sequencing). PLRV, ToSRV and PVY were also detected in 2, 2 and 3 tubers, respectively. In addition, transmission experiments were carried out with B. tabaci biotype B. The insect could transmit ToCV (acquired from infected potato and tomato leaves) to 1 potato plant (S. tuberosum cv. ‘Agata’), and induce symptoms of leaf rolling and interveinal chlorosis on older leaves 37 days after inoculation. The authors underlined that this is the first time that ToCV is detected in a field potato crop. Considering that ToCV is transmitted by B. tabaci (present in many countries) and that ToCV can induce symptoms resembling those of PLRV, they considered that this should trigger an alert for those involved in seed potato production, virus testing and certification systems.
Sources
Freitas DMS, Nardin I, Shimoyama N, Souza-Dias JAC, Rezende JAM (2012) First report of Tomato chlorosis virus in potato in Brazil. Plant Disease 96(4), 593-594.