An Overview of Chili Leaf Curl Disease: Molecular Mechanisms, Impact, Challenges, and Disease Management Strategies in Indian Subcontinent

Abstract

Leaf curl disease in a chili plant is caused mainly by Chili leaf curl virus (ChiLCV) (Family: Geminiviridae, Genus: Begomovirus). ChiLCV shows a widespread occurrence in most of the chili (Capsicum spp.) growing regions. ChiLCV has a limited host range and infects tomatoes (Solanum lycopersicum), potatoes (S. tuberosum), and amaranth (Amaranthus tricolor). The virus genome is a monopartite circular single-stranded DNA molecule of 2.7 kb and associated with α and β-satellites of 1.3 and 1.4 kb, respectively. The virus genome is encapsulated in distinct twinned icosahedral particles of around 18–30 nm in size and transmitted by Bemisia tabaci (Family: Aleyrodidae, Order: Hemiptera). Recently, bipartite begomovirus has been found to be associated with leaf curl disease. The leaf curl disease has a widespread distribution in the major equatorial regions viz., Australia, Asia, Africa, Europe, and America. Besides the PCR, qPCR, and LAMP-based detection systems, recently, localized surface-plasmon-resonance (LPSR) based optical platform is used for ChiLCV detection in a 20–40 μl of sample volume using aluminum nanoparticles. Management of ChiLCV is more challenging due to the vector-borne nature of the virus, therefore integrated disease management strategies need to be followed to contain the spread and heavy crop loss. CRISPR/Cas-mediated virus resistance has gained importance in disease management of DNA and RNA viruses due to certain advantages over the conventional approaches. Therefore, CRISPR/Cas system-mediated resistance needs to be explored in chili against ChiLCV.

Chilli Leaf Curl Disease: An Emerging Threat to Chilli Cultivation in Maharashtra, India

“…The stunting of chilli plants with complete yield loss was observed at Kemwadi village where 100% ChiLCD incidence was recorded. The ChiLCD is the most destructive disease and it causes 100% losses to the marketable fruits [20][21][22]. The infected plants at late growth stages showed abscission of flower buds and sterile anthers, which resulted in poor fruit growth and underdeveloped fruits [15].…”

Screening of Beta Satellite Associated DNA-A Chili Leaf Curl Virus from Maharashtra

“…ChiLCV is exclusively transmitted through whitefly (Bemisia tabaci) in a persistent-circulative manner (Nalla et al, 2023). In tropical and sub-tropical regions whiteflies are regarded as one of the most invasive and damaging species which transmit leaf curl viruses in chilli, tomato and other crops (Shingote et al, 2022;Ning and Bradley, 2015). In recent past, ChiLCV is appeared to expand their natural host range to other important hosts such as sweet pepper, chilli pepper, tomato, common bean, lisianthus and tobacco (Chattopadhyay et al, 2009;Borah and Dasgupta, 2012).…”

Current status, breeding strategies and future prospects for managing chilli leaf curl virus disease and associated begomoviruses in Chilli (Capsicum spp.)

“…Understanding these areas and their functions is essential. ( Figure 3 ) ( Sahu and Mishra, 2021 ; Shingote et al., 2022 ). Various plant cellular and physiological pathways that are intrinsically maneuvered by geminiviruses for the spread and establishment of infection in the plant ( Sahu et al., 2014 ).…”

“…Betasatellites typically contain a satellite conserved region (SCR), an adenine-rich region, and a βC1 ORF ( Shingote et al., 2022 Single-stranded satellite DNA has been reported to be associated with both bipartite and monopartite begomoviruses ( Hussain et al., 2004 ; George et al., 2014 ). Betasatellites associated with monopartite viruses were around half the size of their helper begomoviruses genome and are essential to induce typical symptoms of virus diseases in their hosts ( Briddon et al., 2002 ).…”