Yellowing disease of tomatoes caused by Tomato infectious chlorosis virus newly recognized in Japan

 In 2001 virus-like symptoms of yellowing, interveinal chlorosis, leaf-rolling, and necrotic fleck were observed on greenhouse- and field-grown tomato plants (Lycopersicon esculentum Miller) in Gunma and Tochigi Prefectures, Japan. Characteristics of the causal agent, such as particle morphology, whitefly transmission, and symptomatology, are similar to those of Tomato infectious chlorosis virus (TICV) and Tomato chlorosis virus, species of the genus Crinivirus in the family Closteroviridae. Electrophoretic analysis of extracted double-stranded RNAs revealed two major species of approximately 7 kbp. Sequencing of reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction products using the specific primers for heat shock protein 70 homolog and diverged coat protein genes of closteroviruses indicated that the virus was TICV.