Field screening and molecular identification of tomato leaf curl virus in Sudan

Abstract EN

Tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum.

Mill) is one of the most popular vegetable crops in the world.

Tomato leaf curl disease is one of the most destructive diseases of tomato crop.

Tomato leaf curl virus (ToLCV, genus Begomovirus, family Geminiviridae) is transmitted by the whitefly Bemisia tabaci Genn.

Two field trials were conducted during 2002 / 2003 and 2003 / 2004 winter seasons at Bara area western sudan to identify tomato cultivars resistant to Tomato leaf curl Sudan virus (ToLCSDV, genus Begomovirus, family Geminiviridae).

In both seasons the response of cultivars to disease incidence and severity was highly significant.

The cultivar Strain B gave the highest disease incidence and severity followed by the cultivar Peto 86.

The cultivars Abdalla and Alla Kareem showed less disease incidence and severity.

The cultivars CLN21126B and Omdorman gave the lowest incidence and severity.

In 2002 / 03 season the cultivar Peto86 gave the highest yield of marketable fruits (8.5 t / ha) followed by cultivar Omdorman (7.7 t / ha) and cultivar Abdalla (7.3 t / ha).

In 2003/04 season the cultivar Abdalla gave the highest yield of marketable fruits (7.7 t / ha) followed by Omdorman (7.5 t / ha) and Peto 86 (7.2 t / ha).

The cultivar Strain B gave the lowest yield of marketable fruits (2.9 and 3.3 t / ha) in 2002 / 03 and 2003 / 04 respectively followed by CLN21126B (4.6 t / ha).

Laboratory studies were conducted in the virology laboratory at the International Agricultural research center for Development (CIRAD), Montpellier, France, where tomato samples were collected from five different locations in the Sudan were tested.

The sequence of the capsid protein gene confirmed that all tomato samples were infected with ToLCV.