Molecular Characterization of Tomato Yellow Leaf Curl Virus in Korea and the Construction of an Infectious Clone

Several tomato production regions in Korea were surveyed for tomato yellow leaf curl disease (TYLCD). Tomato leaf samples showing TYLCD-like symptoms were collected from Tongyeong (To), Geoje (Gi), and Gimhae (Gh) cities of the southern part of Korea. Tomato yellow leaf curl virus (TYLCV) was detected and the full-length genomes of the isolates were sequenced. The TYLCV isolates found in Korea shared high sequence identity (> 99%) with TYLCV-IL [JR:Omu:Ng] (AB110217). Phylogenetic relationship analysis revealed that they formed two groups (with little genetic variability), and the To, Gj, and Gh isolates belonged to the TYLCV-IL group. An infectious clone of TYLCV-To (JQ013089) was constructed and agroinoculated into Nicotiana benthamiana, Nicotiana tabacum var. Xanthi, Petunia hybrida, Capsicum annuum, and Lycopersicon esculentum cv. Hausumomotaro. Agroinfection with a dimeric infectious clone of TYLCV-To induced severe leaf curling and stunting symptoms in these plants, excluding C. annuum. Tomato plants then developed typical yellow leaf curl symptoms