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Natural co-infection of Pospiviroid machoplantae and Begomovirus solanumseveri in tomato
By María del Carmen Zuñiga Romano, Daniel Leobardo Ochoa Martínez*, Reyna Isabel Rojas Martínez, Sergio Aranda Ocampo, Candelario Ortega Acosta, Erika Janet Zamora Macorra
*Corresponding Author.
Received: 08/March/2026 – Published:
27/July/2026
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.18781/R.MEX.FIT.2603-1
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Abstract Background/Objective. High whitefly populations and incidence of up to 90% of tomato plants showing mosaic, intervenial chlorosis, deformation, rugosity and leaf necrosis, associated with virus and viroids, were observed at a high-tech greenhouse in Atlacomulco, State of Mexico. To identify the viruses or viroids associated with these symptoms, the withefly species, as well as to determine if the insects were carrying any of these pathogens, monthly sampling was conducted over a two-year period, collecting plant leaf tissue and adult whiteflies.
Materials y Methods. A total of 347 plants (211 symptomatic and 136 asymptomatic) were analyzed using immunostrips for impatiens necrotic spot virus (Orthotospovirus impatiensnecromaculae), tomato spotted wilt virus (O. tomatomaculae), tobacco mosaic virus (Tobamovirus tabaci), tomato mosaic virus (T. tomatotessellati), pepino mosaic virus (Potexvirus pepini) and cucumber mosaic virus (Cucumovirus CMV), as well as by RT-PCR and PCR using universal primers for viroids and viruses of the genera Pospiviroid and Begomovirus, respectively. DNA was extracted from the insects and analyzed by PCR with specific primers that amplify a fragment of the mitocondrial gene (mtCOI) to identify the whitefly species, as well as universal primers for begomoviruses to determine if the insects were carriers of these viruses.
Results. The results obtained using immunostrips were negative. The fragments amplified by RT-PCR and PCR were sequenced and corresponded to tomato planta macho viroid (Pospiviroid machoplantae) and tomato severe leaf curl virus (Begomovirus solanumseveri). Of the plants analyzed, 49.56% tested positive for the pospiviroid, 23.9% for the begomovirus, and 8.93% for both. Infection caused solely by the viroid was the only one that resulted in an asymptomatic condition. Bemisia tabaci was identified as the whitefly species and was determined to be a carrier of B. solanumseveri.
Conclusions. Symptoms of mosaic, intervenial chlorosis, leaf deformation and necrosis, blistering, and rugosity observed in tomato plants were associated with individual infection by tomato planta macho viroid (Pospiviroid machoplantae), and tomato severe leaf curl virus (Begomovirus solanumseveri), as well as co-infection by both. This is the first report of natural co-infection of tomato planta macho viroid and tomato leaf curl virus. The presence of asymptomatic plants is a key factor to consider when carrying out cultural practices to minimize mechanical transmission of the viroid.
Keywords: Mixed infection, Viral-viroidal, Pospiviroids, Whitefly, Solanum lycopersicum
Figure 1. Symptoms observed in tomato plants associated with begomoviruses. A. Mosaic; B. Interveinal chlorosis; C. Leaf deformation; D. Necrosis; E. Chlorosis with blistering; F. Chlorosis with leaf deformation; G. Chlorosis with rugosity; H. Rugosity with mild mosaic.
Figure 2. 1% agarose gel electrophoresis of PCR products. A. RT-PCR products obtained using universal primers for viroids of the genus Pospiviroid (⁓200 bp). Lane M: 100 bp molecular marker (Promega®); Lane (+): positive control (sample positive for Pospiviroid machoplantae); Lane (-): negative control (water); Lanes 1-16: processed samples; B. PCR products obtained using universal primers for viruses of the genus Begomovirus (⁓550 bp). Lane M: 100 bp molecular marker (Promega®); Lane (+): positive control (sample positive for Begomovirus abelsmoschusmexicoense); Lane (-): negative control (water); Lanes 1-16: processed samples.
Figure 3. Phylogenetic tree constructed using the Neighbor-Joining method based on partial sequences of Begomovirus solanumseveri and Pospiviroid machoplantae from the isolates obtained in this study. A. For B. solanumseveri the Tajima-Nei model was used with 1,000 bootstrap replicates in the MEGAX program, and Capulavirus medicagonis was used as the outgroup; B. For P. machoplantae the Tamura 3-parameter model was used with 1,000 bootstrap replicates in the MEGAX program, and Coleviroid alphacolei was used as the outgroup.
