Begomovirus disease, transmitted by the white-fly Bemisia tabaci is responsible for important economic losses in tomato crops in the Caribbean.

To ensure sustainable development, disease management strategies must be multi-component in nature and based on a thorough understanding of the pathosystems involved, because of the limited resources of growers, the diversity of agrosystems and the fragility of ecosystems within the region.

BETOCARIB aims to study Bemisia-begomovirus-host plant pathosystems and their epidemiology to develop models in order to identify the key factors involved in the propagation of the disease. Integrated pest management strategies able to reduce the impact of the disease on tomato crops will be developed from these models and tested within the various islands. The most effective one will be transferred and adapted to the whole islands to achieve the sustainable management of begomovirus disease. This will be done through scientific and technological cooperation between three the European and five Caribbean research teams.

The project started in 2002 and closed in 2007.

The results are available on the next page 'Project information'. More specific informations may be asked to the partners of the project.