Grafting to Manage Infections of the Emerging Tomato Leaf Curl New Delhi Virus in Cucurbits
Tomato leaf curl New Delhi virus (ToLCNDV) is an emerging begomovirus (<i>Geminiviridae</i> family) listed in the EPPO Alert List 2, present in the Mediterranean area and in Italy, where it was reported in 2015 in Sicilian courgette. The virus is widespread in cucurbits where it causes u...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2022-12-01
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| Series: | Plants |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2223-7747/12/1/37 |
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| author | Mariarosaria Mastrochirico Roberta Spanò Tiziana Mascia |
| author_facet | Mariarosaria Mastrochirico Roberta Spanò Tiziana Mascia |
| author_sort | Mariarosaria Mastrochirico |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Tomato leaf curl New Delhi virus (ToLCNDV) is an emerging begomovirus (<i>Geminiviridae</i> family) listed in the EPPO Alert List 2, present in the Mediterranean area and in Italy, where it was reported in 2015 in Sicilian courgette. The virus is widespread in cucurbits where it causes up to 100% production losses. In 2018, ToLCNDV was isolated in Apulia (southern Italy) in commercial fields of zucchini squash and since then its recurrent outbreaks generated justified concern among growers. Thus, a sustainable and environmentally friendly approach must be adopted. Genetic resistances have been identified in <i>Cucurbita moschata</i> and <i>Luffa cylindrica</i> but, compared to genetic resistance, grafting could provide a faster and more flexible solution because the graft wounding induces tolerance rather than resistance against airborne virus infection. Compared to tolerance, the up-regulation of resistance genes requires energy resources mobilized at the expense of primary metabolism, plant growth, and development. Results of screening among twenty-one local cucurbit cvs. ecotypes and accessions to evaluate tolerance levels against rub-inoculation of ToLCNDV led to the identification of potential rootstocks to attain suitable levels of tolerance against the virus in commercial cucurbit varieties. Cucurbit plants were challenged by a ToLCNDV isolated in Apulia denoted ToLCNDV-Le and evaluated for disease symptoms development and viral DNA accumulation up to 28 days after inoculation. On the basis of disease symptoms developed, plants were classified as tolerant, moderately tolerant, moderately susceptible, and susceptible. <i>Cucumis melo</i> cv. Barattiere did not show any detectable disease symptoms and very low levels of viral DNA accumulation was recorded; thus, it was used as rootstock for some of the remaining cucurbit genotypes that were used as scions. The tolerance trait was transmitted to the otherwise susceptible and moderately susceptible cucurbit genotypes grafted onto the cv. Barattiere. The results of this study suggest practical implications of the approach described. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T03:27:35Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-9e95bc353a9d4cfda06f196c438b57bf |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2223-7747 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T03:27:35Z |
| publishDate | 2022-12-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Plants |
| spelling | doaj.art-9e95bc353a9d4cfda06f196c438b57bf2023-12-03T15:00:11ZengMDPI AGPlants2223-77472022-12-011213710.3390/plants12010037Grafting to Manage Infections of the Emerging Tomato Leaf Curl New Delhi Virus in CucurbitsMariarosaria Mastrochirico0Roberta Spanò1Tiziana Mascia2Department of Soil, Plant and Food Sciences, University of Bari “Aldo Moro”, 70126 Bari, ItalyDepartment of Soil, Plant and Food Sciences, University of Bari “Aldo Moro”, 70126 Bari, ItalyDepartment of Soil, Plant and Food Sciences, University of Bari “Aldo Moro”, 70126 Bari, ItalyTomato leaf curl New Delhi virus (ToLCNDV) is an emerging begomovirus (<i>Geminiviridae</i> family) listed in the EPPO Alert List 2, present in the Mediterranean area and in Italy, where it was reported in 2015 in Sicilian courgette. The virus is widespread in cucurbits where it causes up to 100% production losses. In 2018, ToLCNDV was isolated in Apulia (southern Italy) in commercial fields of zucchini squash and since then its recurrent outbreaks generated justified concern among growers. Thus, a sustainable and environmentally friendly approach must be adopted. Genetic resistances have been identified in <i>Cucurbita moschata</i> and <i>Luffa cylindrica</i> but, compared to genetic resistance, grafting could provide a faster and more flexible solution because the graft wounding induces tolerance rather than resistance against airborne virus infection. Compared to tolerance, the up-regulation of resistance genes requires energy resources mobilized at the expense of primary metabolism, plant growth, and development. Results of screening among twenty-one local cucurbit cvs. ecotypes and accessions to evaluate tolerance levels against rub-inoculation of ToLCNDV led to the identification of potential rootstocks to attain suitable levels of tolerance against the virus in commercial cucurbit varieties. Cucurbit plants were challenged by a ToLCNDV isolated in Apulia denoted ToLCNDV-Le and evaluated for disease symptoms development and viral DNA accumulation up to 28 days after inoculation. On the basis of disease symptoms developed, plants were classified as tolerant, moderately tolerant, moderately susceptible, and susceptible. <i>Cucumis melo</i> cv. Barattiere did not show any detectable disease symptoms and very low levels of viral DNA accumulation was recorded; thus, it was used as rootstock for some of the remaining cucurbit genotypes that were used as scions. The tolerance trait was transmitted to the otherwise susceptible and moderately susceptible cucurbit genotypes grafted onto the cv. Barattiere. The results of this study suggest practical implications of the approach described.https://www.mdpi.com/2223-7747/12/1/37begomovirusmechanical inoculationToLCNDVbiodiversitygrafting-mediated virus resistance |
| spellingShingle | Mariarosaria Mastrochirico Roberta Spanò Tiziana Mascia Grafting to Manage Infections of the Emerging Tomato Leaf Curl New Delhi Virus in Cucurbits Plants begomovirus mechanical inoculation ToLCNDV biodiversity grafting-mediated virus resistance |
| title | Grafting to Manage Infections of the Emerging Tomato Leaf Curl New Delhi Virus in Cucurbits |
| title_full | Grafting to Manage Infections of the Emerging Tomato Leaf Curl New Delhi Virus in Cucurbits |
| title_fullStr | Grafting to Manage Infections of the Emerging Tomato Leaf Curl New Delhi Virus in Cucurbits |
| title_full_unstemmed | Grafting to Manage Infections of the Emerging Tomato Leaf Curl New Delhi Virus in Cucurbits |
| title_short | Grafting to Manage Infections of the Emerging Tomato Leaf Curl New Delhi Virus in Cucurbits |
| title_sort | grafting to manage infections of the emerging tomato leaf curl new delhi virus in cucurbits |
| topic | begomovirus mechanical inoculation ToLCNDV biodiversity grafting-mediated virus resistance |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2223-7747/12/1/37 |
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