New disease of lisianthus caused by tomato yellow leaf curl geminivirus
In Israel, in 1992, unusual symptoms appeared on lisianthus (Eustoma grandiflorum) at various places of the country. Symptoms were characterized by distortion of the growing tips, cup-shaped leaves, and swelling of veins on the lower surface of the leaves. The authors stressed that this disease is devastating in plants infected at an early stage, as plants do not produce flowers, and late infections significantly reduce flower quality. This disease has become a limiting factor to the production of lisianthus in Israel. The occurrence of these virus-like symptoms associated with high populations of Bemisia tabaci (EPPO A2 quarantine pest) indicated that the disease might be caused by tomato yellow leaf curl geminivirus (EPPO A2 quarantine pest). The viral causal agent of the disease has been purified from infected plants and identified with a molecular probe prepared from cloned tomato yellow leaf curl virus DNA and a specific antiserum against the virus. Purified viral preparations could also be transmitted to healthy lisianthus during transmission experiments with B. tabaci. The authors concluded that the causal agent of this new disease of lisianthus is tomato yellow leaf curl geminivirus and felt that the recent spread of this leaf curl disease may be due to a new biotype of B. tabaci with better adaptation to lisianthus (in Israel, several biotypes are present including the B biotype).
Sources
Cohen, J.; Gera, A.; Ecker, R.; Ben Joseph, R.; Perlsman, M. (1995) Lisianthus leaf curl a new disease of lisianthus caused by tomato yellow leaf curl virus.
Plant Disease, 79 (4), 416-420.