Complete genome and pathogenicity of Tomato yellow leaf distortion virus, a bipartite begomovirus infecting tomato in Cuba

Tomato plants showing symptoms of yellow mottle and leaf distortion, first observed in eastern Cuba in 2007, have been shown to be associated with the presence of a novel bipartite begomovirus (genus Begomovirus, family Geminiviridae) species, Tomato yellow leaf distortion virus (ToYLDV), for which the DNA-A has already been sequenced. Here, we present the completion of ToYLDV genome characterization by cloning and sequencing the DNA-B component. In addition, we constructed infectious clones that were used to inoculate tomato, soybean, Nicotiana tabacum and N. benthamiana plants by a biolistic procedure. Cloned ToYLDV reproduced the symptoms observed in tomato in the field, thus confirming that this begomovirus is the causal agent of the disease present in Cuba.