Arabidopsis thaliana,an experimental host for tomato yellow leaf curl disease‐associated begomoviruses by agroinoculation and whitefly transmission

Tomato yellow leaf curl disease is one of the most devastating viral diseases affecting tomato crops worldwide. This disease is caused by several begomoviruses (genus Begomovirus, family Geminiviridae), such as Tomato yellow leaf curl virus (TYLCV), that are transmitted in nature by the whitefly vector Bemisia tabaci. An efficient control of this vector‐transmitted disease requires a thorough knowledge of the plant–virus–vector triple interaction. The possibility of using Arabidopsis thaliana as an experimental host would provide the opportunity to use a wide variety of genetic resources and tools to understand interactions that are not feasible in agronomically important hosts. In this study, it is demonstrated that isolates of two strains (Israel, IL and Mild, Mld) of TYLCV can replicate and systemically infect A. thaliana ecotype Columbia plants either by Agrobacterium tumefaciens‐mediated inoculation or through the natural vector Bemisia tabaci. The virus can also be acquired from A. thaliana‐infected plants by B. tabaci and transmitted to either A. thaliana or tomato plants. Therefore, A. thaliana is a suitable host for TYLCV–insect vector–plant host interaction studies. Interestingly, an isolate of the Spain (ES) strain of a related begomovirus, Tomato yellow leaf curl Sardinia virus (TYLCSV‐ES), is unable to infect this ecotype of A. thaliana efficiently. Using infectious chimeric viral clones between TYLCV‐Mld and TYLCSV‐ES, candidate viral factors involved in an efficient infection of A. thaliana were identified.     

Detection of Tomato yellow leaf curl virus in imported tomato fruit in northern Europe

Imported tomato fruits infected with Tomato yellow leaf curl virus (TYLCV) were identified on the market in northern Europe using paper‐based FTA Classic Cards (Whatman), polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and partial DNA sequence analysis. Trade tomatoes originating from southern Europe, Africa and the Middle East were sampled in Estonia and Sweden, and tested for infection with begomoviruses. Out of 100 batches analysed with five fruits sampled in each batch (58 batches from Estonia and 42 from Sweden), 20 batches were positive (16 from Estonia and four from Sweden). Rolling circle amplification (RCA) and full‐length genome sequence analysis of one isolate collected in Estonia and one isolate in Sweden, revealed highest nucleotide sequence identity at 99% to TYLCV‐IL for the Estonian isolate and at 97% to TYLCV‐Mld for the Swedish isolate. In this study, TYLCV was identified for the first time in imported tomato fruits on the market in northern Europe. FTA cards proved to be an effective means to collect, extract and store begomovirus DNA from tomato fruits and the subsequent molecular analysis.     

番茄黄化曲叶病毒与番茄褪绿病毒复合侵染对番茄黄化曲叶病毒传播的影响

番茄黄化曲叶病毒(tomato yellow leaf curl virus, TYLCV)是一种由烟粉虱传播的单链环状DNA病毒, 在田间可与多种病毒发生复合侵染, 如番茄褪绿病毒(tomato chlorosis virus, ToCV)等?本文对比了TYLCV单独侵染和TYLCV与ToCV复合侵染对烟粉虱获取和传播TYLCV的影响?结果表明, 与取食TYLCV单独侵染的番茄相比, 取食复合侵染番茄的烟粉虱对TYLCV的传毒率显著提高, 且番茄植株和烟粉虱体内TYLCV的病毒积累量也显著提高?试验结果说明复合侵染会提高烟粉虱的传毒率, 促进TYLCV的发生与流行?     

Pcr-amplification of tomato yellow leaf curl virus (TYLCV) DNA from squashes of plants and whitefly vectors: Application to the study of TYLCV acquisition and transmission

DNA of tomato yellow leaf curl virus (TYLCV), a geminivirus transmitted by the whitefly Bemisia tabaci, was amplified from squashes of infected tomato plants and of viruliferous vectors using the polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Samples of infected tissues as small as 1 mm² were squashed onto a nylon membrane. A 1 × 2 mm strip containing the squash was introduced into a 25 µl PCR reaction mix. The reaction products were subjected to gel electrophoresis, blotted and hybridized with a radiolabeled virus-specific DNA probe. TYLCV DNA was amplified from squashes of leaves, roots, and stem of infected tomato and from individual viruliferous whiteflies. The same squash could be used several times to amplify different virus DNA fragments with various sets of primers. Thus plant and insect squashes can be used as templates for the amplification of geminiviral DNA with no need to prepare tissue extracts or purify nucleic acids. The squash-PCR procedure was applied to study whitefly transmission of TYLCV. Tomato plants were inoculated by placing a single viruliferous insect in the center of a young leaflet. In some plants TYLCV DNA was detected at the site of inoculation as early as 5 min after the beginning of the access feeding and in all plants after 30 min. The squash-PCR procedure also was applied to the study of TYLCV acquisition by the insect vector. TYLCV DNA was detected in the head of whiteflies as early as 5 min after the beginning of the access feeding on infected tomato plants. Viral DNA was detected in the thorax after 10 min and in the abdomen after 25 min.     

Panel of real‐time PCRs for the multiplexed detection of two tomato‐infecting begomoviruses and their cognate whitefly vector species

A new approach for the simultaneous identification of the viruses and vectors responsible for tomato yellow leaf curl disease (TYLCD) epidemics is presented. A panel of quantitative multiplexed real‐time PCR assays was developed for the sensitive and reliable detection of Tomato yellow leaf curl virus‐Israel (TYLCV‐IL), Tomato leaf curl virus (ToLCV), Bemisia tabaci Middle East Asia Minor 1 species (MEAM1, B biotype) and B. tabaci Mediterranean species (MED, Q biotype) from either plant or whitefly samples. For quality‐assurance purposes, two internal control assays were included in the assay panel for the co‐amplification of solanaceous plant DNA or B. tabaci DNA. All assays were shown to be specific and reproducible. The multiplexed assays were able to reliably detect as few as 10 plasmid copies of TYLCV‐IL, 100 plasmid copies of ToLCV, 500 fg B. tabaci MEAM1 and 300 fg B. tabaci MED DNA. Evaluated methods for routine testing of field‐collected whiteflies are presented, including protocols for processing B. tabaci captured on yellow sticky traps and for bulking of multiple B. tabaci individuals prior to DNA extraction. This work assembles all of the essential features of a validated and quality‐assured diagnostic method for the identification and discrimination of tomato‐infecting begomovirus and B. tabaci vector species in Australia. This flexible panel of assays will facilitate improved quarantine, biosecurity and disease‐management programmes both in Australia and worldwide.     

烟粉虱传播的番茄褪绿病毒和番茄黄化曲叶病毒对不同番茄品种的复合侵染

为明确烟粉虱传播的番茄褪绿病毒(Tomato chlorosis virus,ToCV)与番茄黄化曲叶病毒(Tomato yellow leaf curl virus,TYLCV)对不同番茄品种的复合侵染情况,于2015年11月在山东省寿光市温室内采集13个番茄品种共390份疑似发病植株叶片,对不同番茄品种的TYLCV抗性和2种病毒的复合侵染以及温室内发病番茄植株上烟粉虱成虫的带毒率进行检测。结果表明,采集的13个番茄品种经分子标记检测鉴定均为TYLCV杂合抗性;不同番茄品种ToCV与TYLCV的复合侵染率存在明显差异,大果番茄粉宴和贝瑞上复合侵染率最高可达73.3%,而樱桃番茄八喜上未检测到这2种病毒的复合侵染。此外,在发病番茄植株上采集的烟粉虱成虫体内可检测到2种病毒,其中烟粉虱ToCV带毒率为90.7%,TYLCV带毒率为80.0%,同时检测到ToCV与TYLCV的概率为71.3%。表明ToCV和TYLCV的复合侵染在山东省番茄生产中普遍发生,烟粉虱可同时携带这2种病毒并广泛传播。     

京郊番茄主要病毒病毒原鉴定

近年来, 番茄病毒病, 特别是番茄黄化曲叶病毒（TYLCV）病在北京地区空前暴发, 给番茄生产造成严重威胁, 使番茄的产量和品质显著降低。2012-2013年在北京周边7个区县, 采集疑似感染病毒的番茄植株样品325份, 分别针对TYLCV、烟草花叶病毒（TMV）、黄瓜花叶病毒（CMV）3种病毒进行了PCR或ELISA 检测。检测结果表明, 目前在北京地区大棚或温室内发生的番茄病毒病以TYLCV为主; 露地番茄病毒复合侵染现象比较普遍, 病毒检出率100%, 其中TYLCV检出率达到75%以上。在TYLCV侵染的样品中, TYLCV和CMV复合侵染占20%左右, TYLCV和TMV复合侵染占15%左右。部分样品检测到TYLCV、CMV 和TMV 3种病毒复合侵染的现象。     

Identification of an A2 population of Phythophthora andina attacking tree tomato in Peru indicates a risk of sexual reproduction in this pathosystem

Tree tomato, Solanum betaceum, is an Andean fruit crop previously shown to be attacked by Phytophthora andina in Ecuador and Colombia. Blight‐like symptoms were discovered on tree tomato plants in the central highlands of Peru in 2003 and shown to be caused by P. andina. Isolates of P. andina, collected from three different plantations in Peru over a 6‐year time span (2003–2008), were compared genetically with P. andina isolates from Colombia and Ecuador to test whether the pathogen population is geographically structured in the Andes. Restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP), mitochondrial DNA and simple sequence repeat (SSR) genetic markers, and mating type behaviour indicated that the Peruvian P. andina population from tree tomato is genetically distinct from populations infecting tree tomato in Colombia (CO‐1) and Ecuador (EC‐3, Ia, A1), but is more similar to the population infecting solanaceous hosts of the Anarrhichomenum complex (EC‐2, Ic, A2). Such geographic substructuring within this pathogen species could result from spatial isolation. Most strikingly, in contrast to the Ecuadorian and Colombian P. andina isolates from tree tomato, the Peruvian isolates have the A2 mating type. The presence of both mating types in the Andean population of P. andina attacking tree tomato indicates a risk of sexual reproduction and the presence of long‐lasting oospores in this pathosystem.     

Long‐lasting β‐aminobutyric acid‐induced resistance protects tomato fruit against Botrytis cinerea

Minimizing losses to pests and diseases is essential for producing sufficient food to feed the world's rapidly growing population. The necrotrophic fungus Botrytis cinerea triggers devastating pre‐ and post‐harvest yield losses in tomato (Solanum lycopersicum). Current control methods are based on the pre‐harvest use of fungicides, which are limited by strict legislation. This investigation tested whether induction of resistance by β‐aminobutyric acid (BABA) at different developmental stages provides an alternative strategy to protect post‐harvest tomato fruit against B. cinerea. Soil‐drenching plants with BABA once fruit had already formed had no impact on tomato susceptibility to B. cinerea. However, BABA application to seedlings significantly reduced post‐harvest infection of fruit. This resistance response was not associated with a yield reduction; however, there was a delay in fruit ripening. Untargeted metabolomics revealed differences between fruit from water‐ and BABA‐treated plants, demonstrating that BABA triggered a defence‐associated metabolomics profile that was long lasting. Targeted analysis of defence hormones suggested a role of abscisic acid (ABA) in the resistance phenotype. Post‐harvest application of ABA to the fruit of water‐treated plants induced susceptibility to B. cinerea. This phenotype was absent from the ABA‐exposed fruit of BABA‐treated plants, suggesting a complex role of ABA in BABA‐induced resistance. A final targeted metabolomic analysis detected trace residues of BABA accumulated in the red fruit. Overall, it was demonstrated that BABA induces post‐harvest resistance in tomato fruit against B. cinerea with no penalties in yield.     

RNA silencing of PEX6 gene causes decrease in pigmentation,sporulation and pathogenicity of Fusarium oxysporum

Peroxisomes are single membrane‐bound organelles that play a pivotal role in various developmental processes in all eukaryotic cells. This study targeted the PEX6 gene, which encodes for peroxisomal biogenesis factor 6, by RNA interference (RNAi) in Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. lycopersici. Fusarium oxysporum is a soilborne filamentous, hemibiotrophic fungus that invades tomato roots and colonizes the xylem vessels, thereby causing complete wilting of infected tomato plants. The expression of FoPEX6 in F. oxysporum was found to be higher during early stages of growth and development. The FoPEX6 gene was isolated and a hairpin RNAi construct was prepared and introduced into F. oxysporum 4471 through glass‐bead transformation. The fungal transformation status, i.e. integration, expression and presence of the intended small interfering RNAs (siRNAs), was confirmed by PCR, qPCR and stem‐loop PCR, respectively. The silenced fungal transformants exhibited reduced pigmentation and a significant reduction in sporulation as compared to the wild type. They also showed dramatic reduction in pathogenicity (virulence) on tomato, based on root infection and fruit invasion assays. These results suggest that PEX6 has a central role in pigmentation, sporulation and pathogenicity in F. oxysporum.     

Screening tomato genotypes for resistance and tolerance to Tomato chlorosis virus

Tomato chlorosis virus (ToCV) is an emerging crinivirus in Brazil that causes an economically important disease in tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) and other solanaceous species. ToCV is transmitted predominantly by the whitefly Bemisia tabaci Middle East‐Asia Minor 1 (MEAM1, formerly biotype B), in a semipersistent manner. As all cultivated tomato varieties and hybrids are susceptible to this crinivirus, the main alternatives for the control of the disease are the use of healthy seedlings for transplanting and the chemical control of the insect vector. The objective of this work was to evaluate the responses of tomato genotypes to infection with this crinivirus and their tolerance to the disease in order to support the development of other alternatives for disease control. Resistance to infection was evaluated by ToCV inoculation with viruliferous B. tabaciMEAM1 followed by virus detection by RT‐PCR and RT‐qPCR. To measure tolerance to the disease, plant development and fruit yield of ToCV‐infected and healthy plants were compared. Among 56 genotypes, only the lineage IAC‐CN‐RT (S. lycopersicum ‘Angela Gigante’ × S. peruvianum ‘LA 444‐1’) was highly resistant to infection with ToCV. Tolerance to the disease over two trials with different genotypes showed variable results. The effect of ToCV on plant development varied from 2.9% to 71.9% reduction, while yield loss varied from 0.2% to 51.8%. The highly ToCV‐resistant lineage IAC‐CN‐RT, which is also resistant to a Spanish isolate of ToCV, might be useful for tomato breeding programmes.     

Virus transmission studies and diagnostic detection of four begomovirus isolates in selected crop hosts and in Bemisia tabaci biotype B*

Virus transmission studies were conducted under glasshouse conditions using the vector Bemisia tabaci biotype B to determine how effectively isolates of the begomoviruses Tomato yellow leaf curl virus (TYLCV) and Tomato leaf curl Bangalore virus (ToLCBV) could be transmitted to phaseolus bean, capsicum and tomato test plants, the latter host used as a positive control for transmission. Diagnostic detection of viruses in these host crops and vector was also evaluated. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) detection of TYLCV in bean cv. Wade and capsicum cv. Bellboy was achieved 4 weeks after fumigation in asymptomatic plants. Detection of TYLCV in tomato controls was achieved 2 weeks after fumigation with improved frequency of detection at 4 weeks. PCR was found to be a more sensitive method than triple‐antibody sandwich enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay (TAS‐ELISA) for the detection of TYLCV isolates in all hosts. ToLCBV was detected by PCR and TAS‐ELISA in bean. TYLCV was also detected by PCR in the vector, with a novel internal positive control. This work was carried out to facilitate the development of a diagnostic protocol for the begomoviruses causing tomato yellow leaf curl under the EU SMT programme project –‘Diagnostic protocols for organisms harmful to plants’ (DIAGPRO).     

Resistance to Xanthomonas perforans race T4 causing bacterial spot in tomato breeding lines

Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) is the second most important vegetable crop in the world. Bacterial spot (BS) of tomato, caused by four species of Xanthomonas: X. euvesicatoria, X. vesicatoria, X. perforans and X. gardneri, results in severe loss in yield and quality due to defoliation and formation of lesions on fruits, respectively. Currently management practices do not offer effective control under conditions of high disease pressure. Thus, developing BS resistance is a critical priority for tomato growers in order to minimize crop losses. Sixty‐three advanced tomato breeding lines, heirlooms and wild tomato lines with diverse genetic backgrounds were screened under greenhouse and field conditions for BS resistance using X. perforans race T4, which was found to be a prevalent race in North Carolina. Race T4 isolate 9 was used to inoculate the plants by spraying, and disease severity was measured using the Horsfall–Barratt scale. Tomato lines 74L‐1W(2008), NC2CELBR, 081‐12‐1X‐gsms, NC22L‐1 (2008) and 52LB‐1 showed resistance to BS in the field and/or greenhouse trials. These lines were derived from S. pimpinellifolium L3707. Screening L3707 followed by development of a mapping population and mapping resistance genes might be useful for breeding resistance against BS in future breeding programmes.     

Spread of Tomato yellow leaf curl virus in Sicily: Partial Displacement of Another Geminivirus Originally Present

The geminivirus Tomato yellow leaf curl virus (TYLCV) was reported for the first time in Italy in 2002. We have followed its spread in Sicily, where Tomato yellow leaf curl Sardinia virus (TYLCSV), another tomato-infecting geminivirus, is endemic and has been causing severe crop losses since 1989. The presence of the two viruses was monitored in the main tomato growing area, the Ragusa province, analyzing samples with yellow leaf curling symptoms. At first (spring–summer 2002) both viruses were always found in mixed infections, but in 2003 and 2004 18–35% of plants were found infected by TYLCV alone and 8–28% by TYLCSV alone, with 41–69% carrying both viruses. TYLCV has spread quickly in the area, demonstrating, as in other parts of the world, its high virulence and invasiveness; however it has not, so far, completely displaced TYLCSV. An infectious clone of TYLCV from Sicily (TYLCV-IT) was sequenced. The nucleotide sequence was 97% identical to other TYLCV strains of the ‘severe’ type, found in many countries worldwide.     

Development of a tomato plant resistant to Clavibacter michiganensis using the endolysin gene of bacteriophage CMP1 as a transgene

The bacteriophage CMP1 endolysin gene (lys), encoding, a peptidase that was shown to effectively reduce Clavibacter michiganensis by specifically hydrolysing its murein, was transferred into tomato plants by Agrobacterium‐mediated transformation. The presence of the gene was verified by PCR and the gene product was confirmed in immunoblots and stably expressed over three generations. Transgenic tomato plants did not show disease symptoms after infection with C. michiganensis subsp. michiganensis, despite the fact that small amounts of bacteria could still be identified in xylem sap and leaf extracts, although in significantly reduced amounts.     

Ultrastructural aspects of tomato leaves infected by Tomato torrado virus (ToTV) and co‐infected by other viruses

Optical and electron microscopy studies were carried out to investigate the cytopathology induced in tomato leaves infected by Tomato torrado virus (ToTV), a new picorna‐like virus associated with the ‘Torrado’ disease. Infected leaves, showing typical Torrado disease symptoms were surveyed in commercial greenhouses in the main tomato production areas of Spain. The effect of the co‐infection of ToTV with other viruses which commonly infect tomato crops was also studied. Ultra‐thin sections of ToTV‐infected tomato leaves did not show a strong cellular alteration. However, crystalline arrays of isometric virus‐like particles (VLPs) of 20–30 nm in the inclusion bodies were observed in phloem parenchyma cells of the infected tissues. Tissues co‐infected by ToTV and either Tomato chlorosis virus (ToCV) or Pepino mosaic virus (PepMV) presented more severe cellular alterations. The most deleterious consequences for tomato cells were found in triple infections of ToTV, PepMV and Tomato spotted wilt virus (TSWV), where characteristic cell wall overgrowth was distinguishable, together with a large amount of necrotic cells.     

Occurrence of aphidborne viruses in southernmost South American populations of Fragaria chiloensis ssp. chiloensis

Wild and cultivated Fragaria chiloensis ssp. chiloensis (Fcc) plants were collected at different locations in southern Chile in order to determine the current viral status of this native strawberry. The following aphidborne viruses (ABVs): Strawberry mild yellow edge virus (SMYEV), Strawberry mottle virus (SMoV), Strawberry crinkle virus (SCV) and Strawberry vein banding virus (SVBV), were found in wild and cultivated Fcc plants, but severe symptoms were not associated with viral infection. Furthermore, partial gene sequences of these ABV isolates were determined and displayed a high degree of conservation with virus isolates reported previously. In addition, partial gene sequences of SCV and SVBV from southernmost South American populations of Fcc are described for the first time. High‐throughput parallel sequencing (Illumina) of double‐stranded RNA was used to provide viral profiles of Fcc from different locations. Although strong evidence of novel viruses affecting Fcc was not found, it was confirmed that ABVs are the most frequent viruses affecting this subspecies. The information provided will help in the development of high‐quality molecular tools for virus detection and control in Fcc.     

Characterization of the first two viruses described from wild populations of hammer orchids (Drakaea spp.) in Australia

Sequences representing the genomes of two distinct virus isolates infecting wild plants of two members of the genus Drakaea (hammer orchids) in Western Australia are described. The virus isolated from Drakaea livida has a bipartite genome of 4490 nt (RNA1) and 2905 nt (RNA2) that shares closest sequence and structural similarity to members of the genus Pecluvirus, family Virgaviridae, described from legumes in the Indian subcontinent and West Africa. However, it differs from pecluviruses by lacking a P39 protein on RNA2 and having a cysteine‐rich protein gene located 3′ of the triple gene block protein genes. It is the first peclu‐like virus to be described from Australia. The name Drakaea virus A is proposed (DVA; proposed member of the family Virgaviridae, genus unassigned). The second virus isolate was identified from Drakaea elastica, a species classed as endangered under conservation legislation. The genome sequence of this virus shares closest identity with isolates of Donkey orchid symptomless virus (DOSV; proposed member of the order Tymovirales, family and genus unassigned), a species described previously from wild Caladenia and Diuris orchids in the same region. These viruses are the first to be isolated from wild Drakaea populations and are proposed to have an ancient association with their orchid hosts.     

Methods of controlling Tomato yellow leaf curl virus (TYLCV) and its vector Bemisia tabaci in the Maltese Islands*

Bemisia tabaci and Tomato yellow leaf curl virus (TYLCV) were first observed in Malta in the early 1990s and caused serious damage to glasshouse and outdoor tomato crops. Chemical, physical and biological control methods have been developed, but the effective method has been the use of virus‐tolerant cultivars.     

Yellow leaf curl and other virus diseases of tomato in Cyprus

Outdoor and greenhouse tomato plantings in the main production centres of Cyprus were surveyed for virus diseases during 1978–1982. A disease characterized by prominent leaf yellowing and curling was the most prevalent and damaging. The causal agent was identified as tomato yellow leaf curl virus (TYLCV) because it infected Datura stramonium but not the tobacco cultivars Havana 423 or Virginia, was graft-transmissible but not mechanically or seed-transmissible, and was transmitted persistently by the tobacco whitefly, Bemisia tabaci. Minimum acquisition and inoculation feeding periods were 20–30 and 10–20 min. respectively; the latent period was 21–24 h. The vector was infective for about 12 days, but there was no transovarial transmission to progeny.
Four other, mechanically transmissible, viruses were also isolated from tomato and identified on the basis of symptomatology, indicator host reactions and serology; tobacco mosaic virus (TMV), potato virus Y (PVY). potato virus X (PVX), and cucumber mosaic virus (CMV). These viruses, especially TMV, were commonly associated with mosaic symptoms and occasionally with other leaf or fruit disorders; coinfection with TYLCV occurred frequently.