The present study was conducted to characterize Leaf Curl Virus infecting tomato in south Gujarat region showing typical leaf curl symptom with upward/downward curling along with vein clearing of the leaves. A part of DNA-A molecule of ~1200 bp was amplified with a Begomovirus specific primers confirming it to be Begomovirus. On sequencing, a 1125 bp nucleotide sequence (Accession no- KU921251) was obtained. Amplified fragment had two genes viz., virus coat protein (V1) gene and pre coat protein (V2) gene. The sequenced virus showed highest identity (94%) with Tomato leaf curl Gujarat virus [Nepal] segment DNA A, [] followed by 93% sequence identity with thirteen different tomato Begomoviruses which were the strains/isolates of Tomato leaf curl Gujarat virus or Tomato leaf curl New Delhi virus []. The virus was named as Tomato leaf curl Gujarat virus [Nepal] [India:Nvs: LC:Tom:2016] and was abbreviated as ToLCGV [Nepal] [India:Nvs: LC:Tom:2016]. Phylogenetic analysis of the sequenced virus with the other Begomoviruses of the different crops from the different location indicated that the virus was typically a leaf curl virus. | Molecular characterization of tomato leaf curl virus ToLCV in South Gujarat India
