First report of tomato yellow leaf curl bigeminivirus in Cuba
Since 1987, typical symptoms of tomato yellow leaf curl bigeminivirus (EPPO A2 quarantine pest) have been observed in Cuba. The presence of Bemisia tabaci (EPPO A2 quarantine pest) was also noticed. The disease is now widespread in the country, causing up to 100 % crop losses in some regions (e.g. south of La Habana). When compared with several isolates, it was found that the nucleotide sequence presented the closest similarity with tomato yellow leaf curl bigeminivirus from Israel (97.3 %). In the Caribbean region, tomato yellow leaf curl has been reported in Dominican Republic (EPPO RS 94/224), Jamaica (EPPO RS 95/021, RS 95/073) and in Martinique (EPPO RS 95/021). This is the first report of tomato yellow leaf curl bigeminivirus in Cuba.
Sources
Martinez Zubiaur, Y.; Zabalgogeazcoa, I.; De Bals, C.; Sanchez, F.; Peralta, E.L.; Romero, J.; Ponz, F. (1996) Geminiviruses associated with diseased tomatoes in Cuba.
Journal of Phytopathology, 144(5), 277-279.
Ramos, P.L.; Guerra, O.; Dorestes, V.; Ramirez, N. (1996) Detection of TYLCV in Cuba.
Plant Disease, 80(10), p 1208.