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ARS Home » Southeast Area » Fort Pierce, Florida » U.S. Horticultural Research Laboratory » Subtropical Plant Pathology Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #316629
Title: Vegetable viruses emerging in Florida and the Caribbean region

Author
item Adkins, Scott
item BADILLO-VARGAS, ISMAEL - University Of Florida
item BAKER, CARLYE - Florida Department Of Agriculture And Consumer Services
item FRANTZ, GALEN - Glades Crop Care
item MELLINGER, H - Glades Crop Care
item RAYAPATI, NAIDU - Washington State University
item FUNDERBURK, JOE - University Of Florida

Submitted to: Legume Viruses Working Group Proceedings
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 5/12/2015
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Tomato chlorotic spot virus (TCSV) and a natural Groundnut ringspot virus (GRSV) reassortant (LGMTSG) with GRSV S and L RNAs and a TCSV M RNA have recently emerged and joined previously established Tomato spotted wilt virus (TSWV) as economically important vegetable pathogens in south Florida. TCSV and TSWV have been documented recently in major vegetable crops in the Caribbean region as host and geographic ranges for these tospoviruses expand. Fresh market tomato plants were observed during 2013 and 2014 tospovirus surveys with virus-like symptoms of leaf, petiole and stem necrosis, and necrotic rings or spots on fruits in south Florida. No TCSV, GRSV or TSWV, or other known tomato-infecting viruses, were detected in symptomatic samples from these plants suggesting the presence of a novel virus. Mechanical inoculation of tomato plants with symptomatic tissue reproduced the original field symptoms. Analysis of the replicase protein 1a, movement protein and coat protein gene sequences from symptomatic tomato samples indicated the presence of a virus that was most closely related to, but distinct from, Tulare apple mosaic virus and other subgroup 2 ilarviruses. Lower identity was observed with previously reported subgroup 1 tomato-infecting ilarviruses. These results indicate that the tomato symptoms observed in Florida since fall 2013 are caused by a novel subgroup 2 ilarvirus, for which the name Tomato necrotic streak virus (TomNSV) is proposed. Continuing tracking of emerging and re-emerging viruses in Florida and the Caribbean region will help strengthen agricultural security in the area, particularly in view of the projected climate change-driven shifts in cropping systems.