The Beet Leafhopper-Transmitted Virescence Agent Causes Tomato Big Bud Disease in California

Abstract

Mycoplasmalike organisms (MLOs) are associated with big bud disease of tomatoes (Lycopersicon esculentum) in many parts of the world. In only a few cases, however, have the MLOs associated with the disease been characterized. We used biological and genetic data to establish that the causal agent of tomato big bud (TBB) disease in California is the beet leafhopper-transmitted virescence agent (BLTVA) MLO. Healthy Circulifer tenellus leafhoppers acquired the BLTVA MLO from field-collected, symptomatic tomato plants and transmitted it to healthy tomato plants, which developed typical big bud symptoms. Healthy tomatoes inoculated with the BLTVA type line (FC-83-13) also developed the floral gigantism and virescence characteristic of the disease (.)