Recent Research Findings Related to Management Strategies of Begomoviruses

Abstract

Begomoviruses (family Geminiviridae) cause a number of serious diseases of cultivated crops and they are considered as the major constrains for cultivation of several crops all over the world. Presently human activity and modern day agriculture are one of the key factors in the emergence of begomoviruses in various parts of the world. The available disease management options include the organisation of agricultural practice to reduce disease, the use of cultural control such as sanitation programmes, the control of the vector population through the use of insecticides, and the breeding and growing of resistant crop cultivars. Transgenic resistance against begomoviruses has shown limited success despite the use of a number of strategies. Ability of begomoviruses to evolve rapidly by recombination and mutations is the major limitation to all these strategies. In modern-day biotechnology, focus is required on engineering begomovirus resistance through transgenic approach. Expression of various full length or truncated or defective proteins of the virus has been effective in achieving pathogen-derived resistance. Antisense RNA and RNAi technology have also been used with some success. This review focus on both conventional and nonconventional management strategies methods have been suggested and described over the years for management of begomoviruses diseases in economically important plants.

A source of resistance against yellow mosaic disease in soybeans correlates with a novel mutation in a resistance gene

“…Many such insecticide sprays are not safe for humans and lead to pollution as they persist for a long time in the environment (Zikankuba et al, 2019). Another approach is to identify/develop resistant germplasm, which could be high-yielding and will be the source of resistance in future breeding programs (Snehi et al, 2015). The identification of these resistant cultivars is of high importance as these cultivars have less impact on the cost of production as compared to insecticide sprays, which are more expensive for the control of vectors transmitting these viruses (Habib et al, 2007).…”

Improving Pepper Inbreds for Resistance to Pepper Yellow Leaf Curl Thailand Virus (PepYLCTHV) through Challenged Inoculations

“…The disease is difficult to control as the vector of the virus (whiteflies) has a wide host range like okra, tomato, eggplant, soybean, angled luffa, cucumber, bottle gourd and pumpkin [5,7]. Developing PepYLCV-resistant cultivars in chili peppers has been challenging due to the disease's nature, the vector and the complex infection strategies of viruses [8,9]. Begomovirus-induced studies on various sources of resistance have revealed qualitative and quantitative gene actions for resistance, depending on the virus strain, chili pepper genotype, and their interaction [10].…”

Biological and Molecular Characteristics of Begomovirus Mild Strains and Their Elucidation for Cross Protection Against Eggplant Begomovirus (Solanum Melongena L.)

“…Virus infections in plants are generally difficult to detect and efforts to control them are also quite difficult. Virus-affected plants cannot be controlled by any chemical treatment (Sneki et al, 2015). Along with technological developments, the challenge arises to find methods of controlling plant viruses that are effective and without side effects.…”