A review of geminivirus diseases in vegetables and other crops in Brazil: current status and approaches for management

Abstract

Insect-transmitted viruses cause some of the most damaging and economically important diseases of crop plants, especially in tropical and subtropical regions. The geminiviruses, a group of single-stranded DNA viruses with unique twined icosahedral virus particles, are responsible for many of these diseases. Of particular importance are the geminiviruses transmitted by whiteflies (Bemisia tabaci), which are in the genus Begomovirus. This is the largest genus of plant viruses (in terms of number of species), and some are responsible for devastating diseases in vegetable and fiber crops throughout the world. This review presents the current understanding of begomoviruses, the diseases they cause, and approaches for disease management. An emphasis is placed on the most important begomovirus diseases in Brazil, which are those that affect common bean and tomato. However, because of the wide host range of the vector and the genetic flexibility of begomoviruses, these diseases pose a threat to many other crops. Therefore, the current situation with begomoviruses that infect okra, pepper, potato, sweet potato and soybean in Brazil is also discussed.

Tomato Yellow Leaf Curl China Virus Impairs Photosynthesis in the Infected Nicotiana benthamiana with βC1 as an Aggravating Factor

“…Begomoviruses are transmitted by whiteflies ( Bemisia tabaci ), and cause devastating diseases in fiber crops and vegetables worldwide (Brown et al, 2012; Inoue-Nagata et al, 2016). The typical symptoms that are caused by begomoviruses include mosaic, leaf curling, vein yellowing, general leaf yellowing, and stunted growth in the infected plants (Leke et al, 2015).…”

Molecular characterization of genetic diversity of tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) begomovirus in Togo

“…Furthermore, since cultivated tomato is not indigenous to Africa and begomoviruses are not seed transmissible (Inoue-Nagata et al, 2016), it is more likely that WATIBs originated from an endemic alternate host. The identification of Ageratum leaf curl Cameroon virus first in Ageratum conyzoides and now on tomato in Togo suggests that this begomovirus can infect more than one host.…”

Fungicide application can improve production of tomato coinfected with Begomovirus and Crinivirus

“…ToSRV is currently the predominant species of begomovirus in Midwestern-Southern Brazil and there is frequently coinfection of this virus with ToCV (Barbosa et al, 2011;Macedo et al, 2014;Inoue-Nagata et al, 2016).…”

“…Additionally, constant use of the same active ingredient favors the selection and multiplication of resistant populations (Esashika et al, 2016;Inoue-Nagata et al, 2016). Another strategy is to promote sanitary emptiness conditions, as occurs in the state of Goiás, Brazil, in which the producer may transplant tomato seedlings in the field only between February 1 and June 30, and harvesting must be necessarily completed in November.…”