Begomovirus bemisiaquarti

The causal agent is a virus from the Begomovirus genus, belonging to the Geminiviridae family. It contains a circular single-stranded DNA genome. The disease is classified as a systemic viral infection that compromises the plant's physiological functions and severely stunts development. There is no curative treatment for infected plants, making prevention the only management strategy.

The primary vector for this virus is the whitefly (Bemisia tabaci). The virus is transmitted in a persistent, circulative manner, meaning the whitefly acquires the virus during feeding and remains infectious for the remainder of its lifespan. This transmission efficiency makes even small whitefly populations a significant threat to crop health.

The host range of the virus includes a wide variety of economically important crops, particularly Solanaceae (tomatoes, peppers, eggplants) and Cucurbitaceae. Weeds in the vicinity of production fields can act as alternative hosts, harboring the virus throughout the year and serving as a continuous inoculum source for susceptible crops.

Symptoms typically include mosaic patterns on leaves, yellowing (chlorosis), leaf curling, crinkling, and stunted growth. Infected plants often show shortened internodes and deformed fruit, leading to significant yield reduction and poor crop quality. Severe infestations can lead to total crop failure, especially if the infection occurs during the seedling stage.

Effective management and prevention strategies include the following:

• Rigorous control of the whitefly population using integrated pest management.
• Installation of fine-mesh screening in greenhouses to exclude vectors.
• Use of virus-free, certified seeds and transplants.
• Removal of alternative weed hosts from and around production areas.
• Implementation of strict sanitation protocols to minimize virus spread during field operations.