| Due to failures of infection after mechanical inoculation of begomovirus on tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.) plants, an efficient and reliable begomovirus inoculation method was developed using the whitefly vector (Bemisia tabaci). Virus acquisition was carried out using a 'Tube-cage', made of a polypropylene tube, containing one to two day-old whiteflies and a tomato plant apex infected with a begomovirus isolate. After 48 h of acquisition access period, inoculation was done using a 'Ring-cage', containing viruliferous whiteflies, attached to the abaxial side of the leaf of young tomato plants. 48 hours after acquisition, the whiteflies were eliminated and the inoculated plants were incubated for 28 days under greenhouse conditions. Three... |
