Tomato yellow leaf curl virus, an emerging virus complex causing epidemicsworldwide

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.