Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) is an economically important vegetable crop worldwide. The Tomato chlorosis virus (ToCV), transmitted by the whitefly crinivirus (family Closteroviridae), causes severe interveinal chlorosis, yellowing of leaves, and reduced tomato yields. This study took place to identify and molecularly characterize the ToCV affecting greenhouse tomato varieties in the Tashkent Region of Uzbekistan. Field studies commenced in September 2024 at three greenhouse farms located in the Gazalkent, Kibray, and Chinoz districts. Leaf samples with disease symptoms totaled 90 (30 samples each from the Cherry, Buran F1, and Alamina F1 varieties), as collected from a total cultivation area of 0.6 hectares. Symptoms included interveinal chlorosis, leaf curling, brittleness, and stunted growth. Symptoms detection appeared on the lower leaves of tomatoes. Monitoring showed 10%–36% of tomatoes sustained infection with a viral disease caused by ToCV. The application of mechanical inoculation confirmed viral infectivity. Molecular identification via RT-PCR used specific primers ToCV_F1 (5′-GAAGAGGAGTTCGAGAAGATACTC-3′) and ToCV_R1 (5′-GCCGGTACCAACCATGGCT-3′), targeting a 378 bp fragment of the coat protein gene. Electrophoresis analysis of PСR products has succeeded on 1.5% agarose gel. This study provides the first molecular evidence of the presence of ToCV in Uzbekistan, laying the foundation for future epidemiological studies and breeding programs.
Tomato (S. lycopersicum L.), cultivars and hybrids, tomato chlorosis virus (ToCV), virus identification, molecular characterization, RT-PCR, RNA
Molecular characterization confirmed the ToCV in the studied virus samples of the tomato cultivars and hybrids in Uzbekistan.