Sweet potato leaf curl Georgia virus

The causative agent of the disease is Begomovirus ipomoeageorgiaense, a member of the Geminiviridae family. This plant virus is characterized by a circular single-stranded DNA genome and is a significant pathogen that affects various cultivars of the Convolvulaceae family.

Sweet potatoes (Ipomoea batatas) are the primary host for this viral pathogen. Infection leads to systemic physiological dysfunction, affecting the plant's ability to allocate nutrients effectively to the storage roots, thereby compromising the yield potential.

Symptoms of the disease are typically observed as severe leaf curling, inward or outward rolling of leaves, and yellowing of the leaf veins. In advanced stages, plants exhibit stunted growth, shortened internodes, and a general loss of vigor, often resulting in premature senescence.

Transmission occurs primarily through the whitefly Bemisia tabaci in a circulative-persistent manner. The virus spreads rapidly in environments where whitefly populations are high, particularly in warm climates where weed hosts provide a consistent reservoir for the virus throughout the year.

• Utilization of virus-indexed, certified disease-free planting material.
• Rigorous management of whitefly populations using integrated pest management.
• Regular scouting and rogueing of infected symptomatic plants in the field.
• Implementing weed control to eliminate alternative viral hosts.
• Maintaining strict quarantine protocols for introducing new varieties.

The economic impact of this disease is significant, as it leads to reduced tuber size, decreased marketable quality, and total crop failure in highly susceptible varieties. Effective management relies on a combination of host resistance, vector control, and clean stock programs.