E. Moriones et J. Navas-castillo, Tomato yellow leaf curl virus, an emerging virus complex causing epidemicsworldwide, VIRUS RES, 71(1-2), 2000, pp. 123-134
Tomato yellow leaf curl (TYLC) is one of the most devastating viral disease
s of cultivated tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum) in tropical and subtropica
l regions worldwide, and losses of up to 100% are frequent. In many regions
, TYLC is the main limiting factor in tomato production. The causal agents
are a group of geminivirus species belonging to the genus Begomovirus of th
e family Geminiviridae, all of them named Tomato yellow leaf curl virus (TY
LCV) (sensu late). There has been almost 40 years of research on TYLCV epid
emics and intensive research programmes have been conducted to find solutio
ns to the severe problem caused by these viruses. This paper provides an ov
erview of the most outstanding achievements in the research on the TYLCV co
mplex that could lead to more effective control strategies. (C) 2000 Elsevi
er Science B.V. All rights reserved.