Tomato chlorosis virus is associated to tomato diseases in Sinaloa, Mexico

In 2005, a low incidence of yellowing symptoms and high levels of whitefly population appeared in tomato field in Sinaloa, Mexico. Symptoms resembled those of the Tomato chlorosis virus (ToCV) and Tomato infectious chlorosis virus (TICV), two whitefly-transmitted criniviruses. To analyze the presence for those viruses, 62 samples were collected in the major tomato growing areas in Sinaloa. Total RNA was extracted from each sample and analyzed by RT-PCR. Initially, was used a pair of degenerate primers (HS-11 and HS-12) that can amplify both viruses. For specific detection of each virus nested-PCR, with primers (TIC-3/TIC-4 and ToC-5/ToC-6) was assayed. The results show that 463 bp DNA fragment was obtained with ToC-5/6 primers in 11 samples. However, none of the samples amplify for TICV. Two PCR products were sequenced and showed 99% sequence identity to Tomato chlorosis virus.