ARS | Publication request: FIRST REPORT OF TOMATO YELLOW LEAF CURL VIRUS IN SOUTH CAROLINA

Submitted to: Plant Disease Series
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: November 17, 2005
Publication Date: March 1, 2006
Citation: Ling, K., Simmons, A.M., Hassell, R.L., Keinath, A.P., Polston, J.E. 2006. First report of tomato yellow leaf curl virus in south carolina. Plant Disease Series. 90:379.

Interpretive Summary: Tomato yellow leaf curl virus (TYLCV) causes serious yield loss to tomato production around the world. This devastating disease was first observed in the United States from southern Florida in 1997 and has spread to several southeastern states, including Georgia, Louisiana and North Carolina. This is the first report of the occurrence of TYLCV in South Carolina. TYLCV is transmitted efficiently in tomato fields by whitefly as an insect vector. The virus also can be carried through the infected nursery planting materials for long distance dissemination. With the presence of feral population of whitefly in South Carolina, this disease has the potential to spread to new areas and caused great economic loss to commercial tomato productions in South Carolina.

Technical Abstract: During 2005, tomato plants in commercial tomato fields, in garden centers, and in research greenhouses around Charleston, SC exhibited virus-like symptoms similar to that of tomato yellow leaf curl virus (TYLCV). Using TYLCV-specific primers in PCR, we were able to identify the virus as TYLCV based on the high nucleotide sequence identity (99%) in the coat protein region. The virus was transmitted efficiently by the viruliferous whiteflies in greenhouse tests. The incidence of the infected plant in commercial tomato fields around Charleston, SC was low (<1%) in our surveys during early 2005 tomato growing season. However, a number of tomato plants in local garden centers exhibiting virus-like symptoms and confirmed to be positive for TYLCV. The observation of the out-of–state nursery plants carrying the virus suggests one means of entry of TYLCV to South Carolina. This is the first report of TYLCV in South Carolina.