First report of Tomato yellow leaf curl begomovirus in Louisiana (US)
At the end of spring 2000, approximately 90 % of tomato plants growing in a farm near New Orleans, Louisiana (US), showed severe symptoms of stunting, leaf cupping and chlorosis. Populations of Bemisia tabaci biotype B (EPPO A2 quarantine pest) were present in the field but in relatively low numbers. The effect of the disease on yield varied from negligible (late infection) to 100% loss (early infection). Symptomatic samples were tested (PCR, nucleotide sequence comparison) and results showed the presence of Tomato yellow leaf curl Israel begomovirus (TYLCV-Is). This is the first report of TYLCV-Is in Louisiana. In USA, Tomato yellow leaf curl begomovirus also occurs in Florida (EPPO RS 97/169) and Georgia (EPPO RS 99/077).
Sources
Valverde, R.A.; Lotrakul, P.; Landry, A.D.; Boudreaux, J.E. (2001) First report of Tomato yellow leaf curl virus in Louisiana.
Plant Disease, 85(2), p 230.