Molecular Characterization and Identification of Whitefly-Transmitted Viral Diseases in Tomato Plant in Kuwait

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Viral diseases cause significant economic losses in many crops. Proper disease diagnosis is essential for successful virus management and it relies mainly on polymerase chain reaction (PCR) techniques. This project is aimed at adapting and optimizing a rapid and very sensitive method for the detection of tomato yellow leaf curl virus (TYLCV) diversity in the tissues of tomato plants and their vectors. This method would enable the detection of TYLCV in a large number of samples (leaves) from open fields and greenhouse-grown plants, and the molecular characterization of virus isolates from different tomato-growing regions in Kuwait, as well as their comparison with other TYLCV species detected in other countries. A plant virus diagnostic laboratory is equipped and available at the Kuwait Institute for Scientific Research (KISR). A previous preliminary survey constituted the first reporting on 15 out of 18 viruses detected in Kuwait. TYLCV was detected by PCR and partially sequenced. It is recommended that similar surveys be conducted periodically, to confirm virus identification using molecular techniques. The work plan for this proposed project includes the following activities: mobilization, sample collection (green houses and open field), symptomatology classification and cataluoging, DNA extraction, PCR amplification, primer design, sequencing and evaluating the diversity of TYLCV in Kuwait.