Alcea rosea leaf curl virus

Begomovirus alceamuvisi is a pathogenic virus categorized within the Begomovirus genus of the Geminiviridae family. It is a DNA virus that exclusively infects plant tissues, causing systemic infection by interfering with the host's physiological pathways. This pathogen is known for its ability to cause severe economic losses in ornamental horticulture and wild plant populations.

The primary host for this virus is the hollyhock (Alcea rosea). The virus is highly dependent on its host plant species within the Malvaceae family, and its survival relies on the continuous presence of susceptible plants in the environment, which serve as reservoirs for the virus during off-seasons.

The transmission mechanism of Begomovirus alceamuvisi is exclusively biological, mediated by the tobacco whitefly, Bemisia tabaci. This insect vector acquires the virus while feeding on infected plant sap. Once acquired, the virus circulates within the vector, enabling it to transmit the pathogen to healthy plants through subsequent feeding cycles. Transmission does not occur via seeds or mechanical contact.

Infected plants typically display characteristic symptoms such as severe leaf curling, inward rolling of leaf margins, interveinal chlorosis, and stunted vertical growth. Flowers often appear deformed or undersized, and the overall vigor of the plant is significantly compromised, leading to poor development and sometimes premature death of the host.

Effective management requires an integrated approach focusing on vector exclusion and sanitation:

• Applying systemic insecticides to manage whitefly infestations.
• Using insect-proof screening for greenhouse and nursery operations.
• Strict eradication of infected plants to reduce the local inoculum source.
• Implementing weed control practices to eliminate alternative host plants in the vicinity.
• Rotating crops or avoiding susceptible species in high-risk areas.