Tomato mottle virus (ToMoV) and tomato yellow leaf curl virus (TYLCV) were compared for their abilities to be acquired by and to replicate in the whitefly vector, Bemisia tabaci biotype B. Recently, TYLCV was reported to be transmitted by viruliferous parents to progeny and detectable in all developmental stages, to be transmitted in a transovarial manner (1), and to be transmitted horizontally through mating. Although not studied specifically, ToMoV, like other New World begomoviruses, was believed to be acquired only by adult whiteflies. Initial studies were conducted on the presence of viral DNA in whitefly instars reared on infected plants. The DNA of both viruses was readily detected using PCR in all instars of whiteflies, except the egg stage. However, using PCR amplification followed by Southern analysis, TYLCV DNA was detected in DNA extracts of whitefly eggs. However ToMoV DNA was never detected in eggs either singly or in groups. Whiteflies reared on virus-infected tomatoes were placed on cabbage (not a host for either virus), and the progeny were monitored throughout all instars for viral DNA. TYLCV but not ToMoV DNA was detected in whitefly eggs, first, and second/third instars. Neither ToMoV nor TYLCV was detected in fourth instars or emerging adults. Whiteflies that developed on cabbage were placed on tomato sedlings to determine if either virus had been acquired from the parents. For each virus approximately 1,000 whiteflies were placed on each of 2 tomato plants for a seven week period. No transmission was observed with either virus.
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