Tomato yellow leaf curl virus (TYLCV) in Kuwait and global analysis of the population structure and evolutionary pattern of TYLCV.

Tomato yellow leaf curl virus (Family Geminiviridae, Genus Begomovirus) is a serious menace in the cultivation of tomato causing Tomato leaf curl disease (ToLCD). Recently, we presented the TYLCV isolates having additional genomic features (nucleotides insertions) characterized from the tomato fields of Kuwait adding up to the genetic diversity repertoire of these viruses. The widespread prevalence of disease in tropics across the continents, emergence of genetic variants and ever increasing complete genome sequences of virus isolates in public database warrant a global analysis to infer the genetic diversity, evolutionary pattern so as to devise suitable disease control stratagems.

Genome of Tomato Yellow Leaf Curl Virus (TYLCV) Obtained from Tomato Leaves in Kuwait.

We report here the genome sequence of tomato yellow leaf curl virus (TYLCV) Wafra 19, isolated in Kuwait from symptomatic tomato plant leaves. The genome showed 98.42% identity to the AZ23-1 strain genome sequence.

Genetic recombination among tomato yellow leaf curl virus isolates in commercial tomato crops in Kuwait drives emergence of virus diversity: a comparative genomic analysis.

Objective: Whitefly-transmitted tomato yellow leaf curl virus (TYLCV) continues to be a major constraint to tomato production in Kuwait. However, very limited information is available about the population structure and genetic diversity of TYLCV infecting tomato in Kuwait.

Results: Whole genome sequences of 31 isolates of TYLCV, collected from commercial tomato crops grown in northern (Abdally) and southern (Al Wafra) parts of Kuwait, were deciphered.

Spatio-temporal variations in bacterial and fungal community associated with dust aerosol in Kuwait.

Kuwait is a country with a very high dust loading; in fact it bears the world's highest particulate matter concentration in the outdoor air. The airborne dust often has associated biological materials, including pathogenic microbes that pose a serious risk to the urban ecosystem and public health. This study has established the baseline taxonomic characterization of microbes associated with dust transported into Kuwait from different trajectories.

First complete genomic characterization and phylogeny of a new recombinant of tomato yellow leaf curl virus (genus Begomovirus, family Geminiviridae) from Kuwait.

While whitefly-transmitted begomoviruses are economically important constraints to tomato production in Kuwait, little is known about genomic features of these viruses from Kuwait. A begomovirus isolated from severely diseased tomatoes, collected over a two-year period in the main tomato-growing areas of Kuwait, was characterized at the molecular level. The complete genomic sequence of the begomovirus was determined, and phlylogeographic studies were conducted to better understand genetic diversity of the virus in the region.