Indonesia pepper begomovirus

Indonesia pepper begomovirus (Begomovirus capsicumindonesiaenseduo) is a significant viral pathogen within the Geminiviridae family. This virus represents a substantial challenge for agriculture, particularly in regions where environmental conditions favor the rapid proliferation of its insect vectors.

The virus primarily affects pepper crops (Capsicum spp.), causing systemic infection. It interrupts the plant's metabolic pathways, resulting in stunted growth and drastically reduced yields, which creates economic instability for commercial vegetable producers.

Symptoms of the infection are distinct and often debilitating. They include severe leaf curling, yellowing (mosaic pattern), leaf margin distortion, and shortening of internodes. Plants often appear dwarfed, and the fruit produced is typically small, misshapen, and commercially unacceptable for the marketplace.

Transmission occurs exclusively through the silverleaf whitefly (Bemisia tabaci). The whitefly acquires the virus by feeding on infected plant tissues and spreads it efficiently to healthy crops. High temperatures and dry conditions exacerbate the disease by increasing the breeding rate and migration of the whitefly population.

Managing this viral disease relies entirely on integrated pest and disease management (IPDM) strategies, as there are no chemical cures for infected plants. Key protective measures include:

• Strict whitefly control using chemical, biological, and cultural methods.
• Planting of resistant or tolerant pepper varieties developed by breeding programs.
• Rouging (removal and destruction) of symptomatic plants to reduce the local viral inoculum.
• Use of physical barriers like greenhouse screens and insect-proof nets.
• Effective weed management to eliminate alternative hosts that harbor both the virus and the whitefly.