Skip to main content
ARS Home » Southeast Area » Charleston, South Carolina » Vegetable Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #238815
Title: First Report of Mexican Papita Viroid Infecting Greenhouse Tomato in Canada

Author
item Ling, Kai-Shu
item BLEDSOE, MICHAEL

Submitted to: Plant Disease
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 5/28/2009
Publication Date: 8/1/2009
Citation: Ling, K., Bledsoe, M. 2009. First Report of Mexican Papita Viroid Infecting Greenhouse Tomato in Canada. Plant Disease. 93:839.

Interpretive Summary: Tomato plants exhibiting general stunting, chlorosis, purple-leaves and tiny fruits were observed in a large greenhouse tomato production facility in Delta, British Columbia, Canada. Through a series of laboratory tests and sequence analysis, Mexican papita viroid (MPVd) in mixed-infection with Pepino mosaic virus (PepMV) was identified. MPVd has only been identified in papita (Solanum cardiophyllum) in Mexico and was considered to be the ancestor of all viroids. Identification of MPVd-like sequence outside its center of origin (Mexico), as well as a natural infection of an important agricultural crop (tomato) other than its original host (papita), indicates a significant change in the epidemiology of MPVd, which may result in a significant impact to tomato productions in North America and around the world.

Technical Abstract: In the summer of 2008, tomato plants exhibiting general stunting, chlorosis to purple-leaf symptoms that were unique compared to those of infection by Pepino mosaic virus (PepMV) were observed in a large greenhouse tomato facility in Delta, British Columbia, Canada. Diseased plants produced no fruits or fruits with reduced size. Four leaf tissue samples were analyzed using a series of laboratory tests for potential tomato viruses and viroids. All these samples were co-infected with Mexican papita viroid (MPVd) and PepMV. Sequence analysis with the full genome of isolate VF2 showed that it shared the highest (>98%) sequence identity to nine MPVd isolates, followed by 94% to Tomato planta macho viroid and only ~80% to Tomato chlorotic dwarf viroid. MPVd has only been identified in papita (Solanum cardiophyllum) in Mexico and was considered to be the ancestor of all viroids. Identification of MPVd-like viroid outside its center of origin (Mexico), as well as a natural infection of an important agricultural crop (tomato) other than its original host (papita) indicates a major shift in the epidemiology of MPVd. This is the first report of MPVd in Canada.