Molecular Detection and Partial Characterization of Tomato Yellow Leaf Curl Virus in Sri Lanka

Abstract

Tomato Yellow Leaf Curl Virus (TYLCV) is an important plant virus on one of the economically most important vegetable crops; tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.). This had not been molecularly detected before, in Sri Lanka. TYLCV-GN-SL was isolated from apparently infected tomato plants using modified Cetyltrimethyl Ammonium Bromide (CTAB) method in Gannoruwa. Associated Begomoviruses were detected using Deng 541/Deng 540 and AV 494/AC 1048 primer pairs. TYLCV was detected for the first time in tomato in Sri Lanka using P1V/P4C, TYLCV specific primer pair. Nucleotide sequence of coat protein of isolated TYLCV-GN-SL proved that the Indian strain of ToLC virus was closely related to Tomato Leaf Curl Sri Lanka Virus (TLCV-SL: 97%) and Tomato leaf curl Geminivirus (TLCGV: 93%) through direct sequencing data. TLCV-SL was confirmed as TYLCV isolate. TYLCV was molecularly detected from major tomato growing districts like Badulla, Nuwara-Eliya, Kandy and Matale in Sri Lanka.

Molecular characterization of begomovirus–betasatellite–alphasatellite complex associated with okra enation leaf curl disease in Northern Sri Lanka

“…The disease is characterized by severe upward leaf curling, leaf and vein thickening, and stunted plant growth (Jeyaseelan et al 2018). Leaf curl disease in vegetables, such as chilli and tomato, is already found as a major constrain in vegetable production in Sri Lanka (Samarakoon et al 2012;Senanayake et al 2013). The present study was carried out to identify and characterize the begomovirus species which is causing the leaf curl disease in Northern Sri Lanka.…”

Molecular detection and characterisation of bipartite Begomoviruses associated with cucurbitaceous vegetables in Sri Lanka

“…Begomovirus infection is a serious threat to crop cultivation in Sri Lanka and they have been reported from many crops (bean, cassava, tomato and chilli) as Bean Yellowing Virus (Wickramaarachchi et al, 2012), Sri Lanka Cassava Mosaic virus (SLCMV) (Saunders et al, 2002), Tomato Yellow Leaf Curl Gannoruwa Sri Lanka Virus (TYLCGSLV) (Samarakoon et al, 2012) and Chilli Leaf Curl Sri Lanka Virus (ChiLCSLV) (Senanayake et al, 2013). Most of them were reported as closely related with the Indian isolates, indicating trans-boundary movement of the virus due to the close among begomoviruses in Sri Lanka is important for the management of the disease.…”