In southern Spain: tomato yellow leaf curl begomovirus causes epidemics on tomatoes and a new disease on beans
As in June 1997 a severe outbreak of tomato yellow leaf curl begomovirus (TYLCV - EPPO A2 quarantine pest) was observed in the region of Almería, field surveys were then carried out in tomato crops in southern Spain. Results showed that this outbreak was caused by isolates belonging to TYLCV-Is. This type of isolate has now spread to all tomato-growing regions in southern Spain, although it had not previously been reported. TYLCV-Is coexists with TYLCV-Sr which has been present in Spain since 1992. In addition, unusual symptoms of leaf crumple were observed in September 1997 on common beans (Phaseolus vulgaris) grown under plastic near Almería and in the field near Málaga. These bean crops were also heavily infested by Bemisia tabaci (EPPO A2 quarantine pest). Symptomatic samples were tested and TYLCV-Is was isolated. The disease could be reproduced by infecting beans with cloned TYLCV-Is obtained from infested tomato plants. This is the first report of TYLCV causing a disease on beans in Spain.
Sources
Navas-Castillo, J.; Sánchez-Campos, S.; Díaz, J.A.; Sáez-Alonso, E.; Moriones, E. (1999) ;Tomato yellow leaf curl virus-Is causes a novel disease of common bean and severe epidemics in tomato in Spain.
Plant Disease, 83(1), 29-36.