First Report of Tomato leaf curl New Delhi virus Associated with Severe Mosaic of Pumpkin in Italy

Abstract

During 2016, a survey was carried out to investigate the presence and distribution of Tomato leaf curl New Delhi virus (ToLCNDV) in Campania region (Southern Italy). In three fields in the Castel Volturno and Giugliano in Campania municipalities (Caserta and Napoli provinces respectively), an unusual disease was noted affecting pumpkin (Cucurbita moschata) plants of the variety “Lunga di Napoli”, a traditional local ecotype. Symptoms consisted of stunting and severe foliar yellow mosaic, which, in some cases, resulted in completely yellow leaves. The affected plants produced less flowers and fruits. The incidence of the disease ranged from 80 to 100% of the plants. The insect vector of ToLCNDV, Bemisia tabaci, was found in each sampled field and the genotype of twenty specimens for each population was identified as previously described (Parrella et al., 2012 and 2014). The Q1 and Q2 variants of the Mediterranean species were identified with a percentage ranging from 11-14% and 86-89% respectively. Four sy...