Symptom development in tomato plants following whitefly-mediated inoculation with tomato yellow leaf curl virus (TYLCV) was related to the occurrence of viral DNA using a specific DNA probe. Although disease symptoms were first observed 15 days post-inoculation, viral DNA could be detected 7 days earlier. TYLCV-DNA concentrations reached an optimum 4 days before symptoms appeared. The highest concentrations of TYLCV-DNA were found in rapidly growing tissues (shoot apex, young leaves, roots) and in the stems; the lowest concentrations were found in the older leaves and cotyledons. Plants were also inoculated on specific sites. Young leaves and apices were the best targets for virus inoculation. In these tissues, the viral DNA replicated at the site of inoculation and was transported first to the roots, then to the shoot apex and to the neighboring leaves and the flowers. Inoculation through the oldest leaves was inefficient.