Journal of Plant Pathology (2005) 87, p. 302 (Parrella et al.)

G. Parrella, L. Scassillo, A. Crescenzi and A.G. Nappo (2005)
Molecular survey on tomato yellow leaf curl disease and its vector in Italy
Journal of Plant Pathology 87 (4), 302-302
XII Meeting, Italian Society for Plant Pathology, Reggio Calabria, 29/9 - 1/10, 2005 (poster)
Abstract: A molecular survey of viruses responsible for tomato yellow leaf curl disease (TYLCD) and their associated vector Bemisia tabaci Genn., was conducted during 2004-2005 in four regions of southern Italy: i.e. Sardinia (two locations), Sicily (one location), Calabria (three locations) and Campania (two locations). A total of 62 tomato samples were checked for virus infection and for the presence of the vector. In a preliminary screening plants were tested for the presence of Tomato yellow leaf curl Sardinia virus (TYLCSV) and Tomato yellow leaf curl virus (TYLCV) by PCRRFLP of a 680 bp fragment comprising the coat protein gene. Results clearly showed that in all four regions both viruses are widespread and present singly or in mixture in single plants. The identity of the two viruses was confirmed by total or partial sequencing of field isolates. In particular, the majority of TYLCV isolates found in Italy showed high similarity with TYLCV mild strain (TYLCV-Mld), whereas other isolates shared the highest similarity with an Egyptian isolate (TYLCV-EG). TYLCSV isolates showed a high level of identity with TYLCSV or TYLCSV from Sicily (TYLCSV-Sic). Concerning B. tabaci populations associated with TYLCD epidemics, the molecular characterization of COI gene (citocrome oxidase I) showed that the Q biotype was the most prevalent. This may be a consequence of the large use of insecticides against which Q biotype populations easily develop resistance, as observed in some countries of the Mediterranean basin.
Database assignments for author(s): Giuseppe Parrella, Aniello Crescenzi

Research topic(s) for pests/diseases/weeds:
surveys/sampling/distribution

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Pest and/or beneficial records:

Beneficial	Pest/Disease/Weed	Crop/Product	Country	Quarant.
	Bemisia tabaci		Italy
	Tomato yellow leaf curl virus		Italy
	Tomato yellow leaf curl virus		Egypt
	Tomato yellow leaf curl Sardinia virus		Italy