J. Navas-castillo et al., Severe yellowing outbreaks in tomato in Spain associated with infections of Tomato chlorosis virus, PLANT DIS, 84(8), 2000, pp. 835-837
Since 1997, yellowing disease outbreaks have occurred in tomato (Lycopersic
on esculentum) crops in southern Spain. The outbreaks were associated with
high populations of the whitefly Bemisia tabaci. Symptoms consisted mainly
of interveinal yellowing that developed initially on lower leaves and then
progressed to the upper part of the plant. Affected plants were less vigoro
us and yielded less due to reduced fruit growth and delayed ripening. Durin
g 1998 and 1999, the yellowing disease was widespread and occurred at high
incidences in the Malaga province. The disease agent was readily transmissi
ble from tomato to tomato by B. tabaci biotype Q. Samples from symptomatic
tomato plants were analyzed and shown to be infected with Tomato chlorosis
virus (ToCV) (genus Crinivirus, family Closteroviridae). This is the first
report of ToCV epidemics in Europe.