Elimination of Tomato Spotted Wilt Virus (genus Tospovirus) From Infected Tomato Plants by Meristem Tip Culture

TOMATO plant (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill) is an economically ……important crop in Egypt and rest of the world. Tomato Spotted Wilt Virus (TSWV, family Bunyaviridae, genus Tospovirus) is a common tomato-infective virus in Egypt. The elimination of TSWV by meristem tip culture without other treatment was studied. Virus-free plants were obtained when using meristem tips smaller than 0.5mm. Optimal tissue culture and propagation protocol were established. Elimination of TSWV was indexed and authenticated by Immuno Capture Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction (IC/RT-PCR). The combination of an efficient protocol for virus elimination from infected plants and the establishment of a sensitive diagnostic test resulted in the production of tomato plants free from TSWV.