Incidence and insect transmission of tomato yellow leaf curl virus in Hatay province of Turkey

Tomato yellow leaf curl virus (TYLCV) is one of the most common viruses infecting tomatoes in the Mediterranean region. Tomato samples with typical viral symptoms were collected from tomatoes grown in the open field and greenhouses in 2002-2003 in Hatay province. These samples were tested for TYLCV, CMV, PVX, PVY and PLRV by DAS-ELISA. TYLCV was detected in 18-49% and 13-32% of the field-collected samples for the different districts for 2002-2003, respectively. For the samples collected in the greenhouse, TYLCV infection rates varied from 10-27% and 6-16 for the Samandag district in 2002-2003, respectively. Tomatoes that tested positive for TYLCV exhibited severe stunting, chlorotic leaf edges, upward leaf cupping, and reduced leaf size. TYLCV-infected tomatoes were observed in tomato transplants in January, when mature tomato plants and whiteflies were present. Bemisia tabaci adults collected from natural infected tomatoes were able to transmit TYLCV to tomato seedlings. Growers should adopt integrated pest management strategies for control of TYLCV infections and should evaluate current moderately resistant hybrids.