Virus diseases of tomato and pepper in Queensland and some aspects of their control

Shanhua, Tainan AVRDC Taiwan

1989

p.249-259

SB349.A85

In Queensland, a total of 11 viruses have been recorded from tomato and 5 of these have also been recorded on pepper. By far the most widespread and important of these is potato virus Y (PVY), with recorded incidences of up to 100% in both crops. Control is difficult due to the abundance of alternate hosts and high vector populations, and genetic resistance is the most promising strategy. Three strains of PVY can be defined by their differential reaction on the various resistance sources available in pepper and several of these genotypes are resistant to all known PVY strains from Queensland. A source of resistance to PVY has been identified in Lycopersicon hirsutum PI 247087. The resistance is governed by a major recessive gene with probably some minor gene influeces and it is effective against all Queensland isolates of PVY tested so far. Low heritability is hampering the incorporation of this resistance into a commercial tomato cultivar. Cucumber mosaic, tomato mosaic and tomato yellow top viruses are at times also limiting factors in tomato production. Tomato mosaic virus is largely controlled by acid extraction of locally produced seed and trisodium phosphate treatment of imported seed. Recent isolated outbreaks have been virtually eliminated by crop hygiene and the use of trisodium phosphate as a disinfectant. Effective control measures are lacking for cucumber mosaic and tomato yellow top virus. The importance of alternative crop and weed hosts in the epidemiology of these two viruses is currently being investigated. [AS]

Tomato and pepper production in the tropics

Research > Published Articles