Abstract

VACA-VACA, Juan Carlos; BETANCURT-PEREZ, Jhon Fredy  and  LOPEZ-LOPEZ, Karina. Detection, identification and geographical localization of tomato-infecting Begomovirus in Colombia. Rev. colomb. biotecnol [online]. 2011, vol.13, n.1, pp.115-122. ISSN 0123-3475.

The begomoviruses (Family Geminiviridae) have recently emerged as a serious pathogens of agronomic and horticultural crops in subtropical and tropical regions of world. These viruses are transmitted by the whitefly (Bemisia tabaci) that recently has got a significant increase in its populations and also has been associated with the appearance of geminivirus typical symptoms in tomato crops around Colombia. Tomato samples with typical Begomovirus symptoms were collected in five different departments, comprising the mayor tomato growing areas of the country. Begomovirus were detected by Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) or Dot Blot Hybridization in all tomato samples collected in whole tomato growing areas of the country. With exception for Valle del Cauca, this is the first report of tomato-infecting Begomovirus in Antioquia, Santander, Boyacá and Cundinamarca departments. Also this is the first report of tomato-infecting Begomovirus crops located above 1500 masl in Colombia.

Keywords : Begomovirus; Bemisia tabaci; tomato; Dot blot; PCR.