Tomato leaf curl New Delhi virus (ToLCNDV)

Posted on : 31 Aug 2021

Scientists of the National Institute of Plant Genomics Research (NIPGR) have unraveled an effective defense strategy deployed by a resistant tomato cultivar against Tomato leaf curl New Delhi virus.

Key Points:

• Tomato leaf curl New Delhi virus (ToLCNDV) infection causes severe losses in tomato yield worldwide.

• Lack of information on resistance (R) genes against ToLCNDV has considerably retarded the pace of crop improvement against this rapidly spreading pathogen.

• Several attempts have been made to identify antiviral genes against ToLCNDV and related viruses.

• Scientists from DBT Autonomous Institution, National Institute of Plant Genomics Research (NIPGR) report an effective defense strategy deployed by a resistant tomato cultivar against ToLCNDV.

• It employs Sw5a (R gene) that recognizes AC4 protein (viral effector) of ToLCNDV to restrict virus spread.

• These findings could be translated into development of resistance in susceptible cultivars of tomato through modern breeding or molecular approaches.

About Tomato leaf curl New Delhi virus (ToLCNDV):

• Tomato leaf curl New Delhi virus (ToLCNDV) is a bipartite, single-stranded DNA virus transmitted by the whitefly, Bemisia tabaci.

• It was first described on tomatoes in India in 1995 (initially as ToLCV-India).

• ToLCNDV was initially found on Solanum lycopersicum (tomato), and then on other Solanaceae such as Solanum melongena (aubergine), chili pepper (Capsicum spp.) and Solanum tuberosum (potato).

• Following its discovery in India, other Asian countries also reported the occurrence of ToLCNDV on a rather wide range of crops.

• ToLCNDV was first detected in Europe in 2012, affecting zucchini squash crops in Spain, with subsequent detections in Tunisia, Italy and Morocco.

ToLCNDV a Threat:

• ToLCNDV is responsible for severe outbreaks of disease in cucurbit crops in the Mediterranean basin and represents a serious threat to economically important solanaceous crops in the region.

About NIPGR:

• The National Institute of Plant Genome Research (NIPGR) (formerly known as National Centre for Plant Genome

• Research) is an autonomous institution aided by the Department of Biotechnology, Government of India (GoI).

• The Institute’s establishment coincides with the 50th anniversary of India’s independence as well as the birth anniversary of Prof. (Dr.) J. C. Bose.

• The formal announcement was made on November 30th 1997.

• The Institute started to function in the year 1998 with the mandate to undertake, promote and co-ordinate research, train workers and to serve as information resource in identified aspects of plant genomics to build a frontline institution.

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