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Cultural management of tomato yellow leaf curl disease in Cyprus
Author(s) -
IOANNOU N.
Publication year - 1987
Publication title -
plant pathology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.928
H-Index - 85
eISSN - 1365-3059
pISSN - 0032-0862
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-3059.1987.tb02245.x
Subject(s) - transplanting , whitefly , biology , incidence (geometry) , horticulture , tomato yellow leaf curl virus , agronomy , leaf curl , veterinary medicine , plant virus , virus , sowing , virology , medicine , physics , optics
Cultural management of tomato yellow leaf curl virus (TYLCV) by roguing old, overwintered tomato crops was investigated in a small, isolated production centre in the southern coastal zone of Cyprus. Control measures were applied on an area‐wide basis during March‐April, before emergence of adult whitefly ( Bemisia tabaci Genn.) vectors, for three consecutive years (1980‐82). In all three years, primary virus spread to spring plantings was almost completely prevented, while further secondary spread to summer plantings was kept below 5%, compared with 40‐50% in 1978 and 1979. When control measures were discontinued disease incidence increased to 15% in 1983 and 40% in 1984. The disease could also be controlled by early transplanting in the spring or by late transplanting in the autumn. Several cultural practices were evaluated to prevent or reduce infection of seedlings before transplanting. Seedlings produced in the summer in a coastal region were infected by TYLCV (virus incidence 7‐42%), with a higher incidence in seedbeds situated near infected tomato crops. Infection was significantly reduced by covering seedbeds with an insect‐proof tunnel, and was completely prevented by producing seedlings in inland areas, where no commercial tomato crops were grown. The use of healthy transplants delayed subsequent disease development in the field but had little effect on final disease incidence.