Vegetos

Abstract

Tomato yellow leaf curl virus is a major limiting threat to tomato agriculture in many parts of the world especially tropical and sub-tropical regions. The severe outbreak of the disease is associated with whitefly B. tabaci biotypes especially biotype B. The severity and high disease incidence reduce yield to zero leading to catastrophic losses in tomato production. TYLCV was first reported from Israel in 1939 but currently it has rapidly spread in most parts of the world and damage to tomato crops attributed to virus species of the TYLCV group has been reported from the Middle and Far East, Africa, Europe, Caribbean Islands, Central America and South America. Typical symptoms of the disease in tomato are yellow (chlorotic) leaf edges, upward leaf cupping, leaf mottling, reduced leaf size, and flower drop. TYLCV can have a severe impact on tomato production. Plants infected at an early stage won t bear fruit and their growth will be severely stunted. Identification of TYLCV based only on symptomatology is unreliable, because similar symptoms can be caused by other viruses or different growing conditions. Sanitation is very important for preventing the migration of whitefly adults and the spread of TYLCV from one localized place to other places. Rogue tomato or other infected plants with early symptoms of TYLCV can be removed from fields by placing infected-looking plants in plastic bags immediately at the beginning season. Maintenance good weed control in the field and surrounding areas are quite helpful to minimize the incidence and severity of disease. Tomato fields should be cleaned up immediately after harvest and the residues should be destroyed after harvest to reduce whitefly migration. Foliar systemic insecticide sprays at an interval of 2–3 weeks could help in the prevention of whitefly population which could ultimately reduce the high disease incidence.