Molecular Characterization of Begomoviruses Associated with Yellow Leaf Curl Disease in Solanaceae and Cucurbitaceae Crops from Northern Sumatra, Indonesia

Begomoviruses, transmitted by whiteflies (Bemisia tabaci), have emerged as serious constraints to the cultivation of a wide variety of vegetable crops worldwide. Leaf samples from Solanaceae (tomato, tobacco, and eggplant) and Cucurbitaceae (cucumber and squash) plants exhibiting typical begomoviral yellowing and/or curling symptoms were collected in Northern Sumatra, Aceh province, Indonesia. Rolling circle amplification was conducted using DNA isolated from cucumber, squash, eggplant, and tobacco, and the full-length sequences of the begomoviruses were evaluated. The following viruses were isolated: bipartite begomoviruses Tomato leaf curl New Delhi virus (ToLCNDV), Squash leaf curl China virus (SLCCNV), Tomato yellow leaf curl Kanchanaburi virus (TYLCKaV), and a monopartite begomovirus Ageratum yellow vein virus (AYVV). Begomovirus diagnosis was conducted by PCR using begomovirus species-specific primers for Pepper yellow leaf curl Indonesia virus (PepYLCIV), Pepper yellow leaf curl Aceh virus (PepYLCAV), ToLCNDV, SLCCNV, TYLCKaV, and AYVV, which are the predominant begomoviruses. The primary begomovirus species for each plant were as follows: PepYLCAV for tomato, AYVV for tobacco, TYLCKaV for eggplant, ToLCNDV for cucumber, and SLCCNV for squash. This study provides valuable information for breeding begomovirus-resistant cultivars as horticultural crops.