An Overview of Chili Leaf Curl Disease: Molecular Mechanisms, Impact, Challenges, and Disease Management Strategies in Indian Subcontinent
Prashant Raghunath Shingote, D. L. Wasule, Vaishnavi Sanjay Parma, Somnath K. Holkar, Suhas Gorakh Karkute, Narsing Devanna Parlawar, D. M. J. B. Senanayake
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.