What virus is associated with tomato yellow leaf curl?

Tomato yellow leaf curl is specifically associated with the Tomato yellow leaf curl virus (TYLCV). This virus is a member of the geminivirus family and is transmitted primarily by whiteflies. Infected plants exhibit characteristic symptoms, including yellowing of the leaves, curling, stunted growth, and reduced fruit yield. Identifying this virus is crucial for developing management strategies to control the spread and mitigate its impact on tomato crops.

The other choices refer to different organisms: Phytophthora spp. are water molds that cause root rot diseases, Helicoverpa zea is a pest that primarily affects crops like corn and cotton, and Chromaphis juglandicola is a known aphid that affects walnut trees. None of these options are directly linked to the yellowing and curling symptoms observed in tomato plants.