Tomato chlorosis crinivirus found in Spain
Since summer 1997, tomato plants in Málaga and Almería provinces in Spain have been showing unusual symptoms. Affected plants presented interveinal yellowing, initially on lower leaves then progressing towards the upper part of the plant. Severe yield losses were observed due to reduced fruit growth and delayed ripening. During the 1998 and 1999 growing seasons, the disease became more widespread and occurred at high incidence levels in the province of Málaga. Outbreaks were associated with high populations of Bemisia tabaci (EPPO A2 quarantine pest). It was demonstrated in the laboratory that the disease is transmitted by B. tabaci biotype Q. PCR assays with specific primers showed that tomato chlorosis crinivirus (EPPO Alert List) was present in symptomatic tomato plants. So far, tomato chlorosis crinivirus had only been found in USA (Colorado, Florida, Louisiana). In USA, it was observed that this virus is transmitted by Trialeurodes vaporariorum, Bemisia tabaci biotypes A and B, and T. abutilonea. This is the first report of tomato chlorosis crinivirus in Europe, and the authors consider that it represents a new threat to tomato crops.
Sources
Navas-Castillo, J.; Moriones, E. (2000) ToCV: a new threat to European horticulture.
EWSN Newsletter, no. 03, coordinated by Dr Ian D. Bedford, Dr Michael de Courcy Williams, 4 pp.