Tomato mottle geminivirus infecting tomato in Florida (US)
Since 1989 a new virus disease of tomato has increasingly been observed in Florida, (US). Incidences as high as 95% have been reported in some tomato crops and conservative estimates have rated the losses due to the virus infection at 125 million USD during the 90-91 growing season. The virus was named tomato mottle geminivirus and is transmitted by Bemisia tabaci (EPPO A2 quarantine pest) biotype B (the new dangerous one). First incidences of the virus in Florida were correlated with the arrival of the B. tabaci B biotype in this US State. Investigations on the host range of the virus showed that it resembles other tomato geminiviruses from the Western Hemisphere in having a rather narrow host range with a preference for Solanaceae, but with different symptoms. It was found that four genera can be infected: Lycopersicon, Nicotiana, Physalis and Phaseolus.
Sources
Polston, J.E.; Hiebert, E.; McGovern, R.J.; Stansly, P.A.; Schuster, D.J. (1993) Host range of tomato mottle virus, a new geminivirus infecting tomato in Florida.
Plant Disease 77; 1181-1184.