INCIDENCE AND GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION OF THE THREE BEGOMOVIRUS SPECIES INFECTING TOMATO IN PANAMA

Abstract

Prospecting was carried out on tomato crops in the provinces of Chiriquí, Veraguas, Herrera, Los Santos, Coclé and West Panamá, with the objective of determining the incidence and geographic distribution of begomovirus during the period 2011-2012. Three hundred nineteen leaf samples from tomato plants showing similar symptoms to those caused by viruses were collected in 28 distinct locations, which constitute the main tomato producing zones in these provinces. DNA extraction was performed from each sample and its analysis was carried out by the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) technique, using two pairs of degenerate primers to detect the genus Begomovirus. Samples showing a positive result were analyzed with specific primers to identify begomovirus species. One hundred thirty-five (135) tomato samples (42,3% of the total samples collected) were positive for the genus Begomovirus, while 100% of these 135 samples were infected with at least one virus. The presence of the Potato yellow mosaic Panama virus (PYMPV), Tomato leaf curl virus Sinaloa virus (ToLCSiV) and Tomato yellow mottle virus (TYMoV) were determined in the samples analyzed. These results were confirmed by DNA sequencing and sequence analysis. The incidence and geographical distribution of these viruses in tomato crops in Panama was discussed, which could help to establish a basis for the design of control strategies of thesepathogens.