Leaf shrivelling virus diseases of the tomato

Abstract

Three virus diseases of the tomato recorded in south-eastern Queensland are described. They are tomato leaf shrivel, tomato yellow shrivel and tomato fern-leaf shrivel. The virus responsible for the disease is transmitted by mechanical inoculations, by three aphid species (in order of vector efficiency, Myzus persicae Sulz., Macrosiphum solanifolii Ash. and Aphis gossypii Glov.), and by grafting. The characteristics of the virus established that it is a leaf shrivelling strain of potato virus Y. The assessment of tomato varieties with respect to their virus susceptibility is described.