Polymerase Chain Reaction-based Detection of Cotton Leaf Curl and Other Whitefly-transmitted Geminiviruses from Sindh

Abstract

Samples of cotton plants showing symptoms of cotton leaf curl disease were collected from cotton fields in Sindh. Samples of some other plants including tomato, chillies, okra and Hibiscus suspected for whitefly-transmitted geminiviruses were also collected from these areas and total DNA was extracted. Degenerate primers designed to amplify DNA-A of whiteflytransmitted geminiviruses were used in PCR for the amplification of viral DNA. A product of expected (1.4 kb) was obtained from all these samples which confirmed the infection of whitefly-transmitted geminiviruses. PCR primers specific for the two whitefly-transmitted geminiviruses species namely CLCuV-Pk1 and CLCuV-Pk2 found associated with cotton leaf curl disease in Punjab were also used to confirm identity of cotton leaf curl virus in Sindh. A product specific for CLCuV-Pk1 was obtained from all four symptomatic cotton samples. The results showed that cotton samples were infected with CLCuV-Pk1 while CLCuV-Pk2 was not detected in these samples. This is the first report of detection of whitefly-transmitted geminiviruses on these crops from Sindh. Our data not only confirm the presence of a whitefly-transmitted geminivirus on cotton but also showed that the disease is caused by one of the virus species found in Punjab.

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“…Symptoms include yellow mosaics, yellow veining, leaf curling, stunting and vein thickening (Anon., 2001a). One million hectares of cotton have been decimated by cotton leaf curl viruses in Pakistan (Mansoor et al, 1993). Damage has also occurred to important subsistence crops, such as cassava, which is affected by a number of different cassava mosaic viruses.…”

Considering Leaf Extract of Miracle Tree (Moringa Oleifera L.) and Potassium Nutrition for Contending Cotton Leaf Curl Virus (CLCuV) Disease of Cotton (Gossypium Hirsutum L.)

“…It first appeared in Multan, Punjab in 1967 (Nawaz et al, 2019), and huge losses were recorded in the cotton crop. Sindh was wellthought-out to be free from this pandemic malady until 1996 when it was reported from Kamo shaheed, Taulka Obaro, District Ghotki, Sindh (Panhwar et al, 2002;PCCC, 1996;Mansoor et al, 1998). After its recognition in Sindh, many surveys were conducted to confirm its presence (Saif et al, 1997;Panhwar et al, 2001;Mansoor et al, 2006).…”

“…A major concern is to induce the capability of plants to face effectively the unfavorable situation. In this scenario, plant nutrition can play a treasured role (Mansoor et al, 1998;Marschner, 1995). Crop nutrition can minimize the incidence of disease which in turn can improve the plant establishment and yield (Usherwood et al, 2001).…”