JOURNAL OF PLANT PROTECTION RESEARCH Vol. 47, No. 1 (2007) TRANSMISSION PROPERTIES OF TOMATO YELLOW LEAF CURL VIRUS FROM TANZANIA Boniface D. Kashina 1 , Robert B. Mabagala 2 , Anatolia A. Mpunami 3 1 Department of Crop Protection, Institute for Agricultural Research, Ahmadu Bello University P.M.B. 1044, Zaria, Nigeria bkashina@yahoo.com 2 Department of Crop Science and Production, Sokoine University of Agriculture, Tanzania 3 Agricultural Research Institute, Mikocheni, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania Accepted: March 6, 2007 Abstract: The tomato yellow leaf curl virus infecting tomato plants in Tanzania is reported to be differ- ent from the Old World geminiviruses. A study was initiated to investigate the transmission proper- ties of the virus such as, acquisition feeding time, inoculation feeding time, persistence of virus in the vector, mechanical inoculation, seed and graft transmission. Results obtained indicate that the virus is transmitted persistently by Bemisia tabaci Genn., but neither mechanically – nor seed-transmissible. Minimum acquisition and inoculation time was 30 minutes. It is concluded that the properties of the agent causing the yellow leaf curl symptoms in tomato plants from different regions of Tanzania are similar and mimic those of tomato yellow leaf curl Begomovirus species studied elsewhere. Key words: TYLCV, vector-host relationships, Bemisia tabaci, Tanzania INTRODUCTION Geminiviruses constitute a major threat to the production of tomatoes worldwide, especially, in the tropics and sub-tropics. Tomato yellow leaf curl virus (TYLCV) is a ma- jor threat to the tomato crop in many tropical and sub-tropical regions (Makkouk and Laterrot 1983). The virus accounts for huge losses in quantity and quality of tomatoes if unchecked. Incidences as high as 100% with undesirable consequences of crop fail- ure have been recorded (Ioannou 1985; Pico et al. 1996). The disease is one of the major virus diseases causing low yields of tomatoes in Tanzania, especially, in farmers´ fields. Disease incidence of 100% had been reported in some regions in Tanzania mainland (Nono-Womdim et al. 1996; Kashina et al. 2003). The virus causing the yellow leaf curl symptoms on tomatoes in Tanzania is reported to be different from the Old World geminiviruses (Chiang et al. 1997). Detailed infor- mation on the transmission of the virus in Tanzania is lacking. Hence, a study was initiated to collect information on the transmission properties of the virus for effective