Sweet potato leaf curl Guangxi virus

Pathogen and disease type: Begomovirus ipomoeaguangxiense is a viral pathogen within the Begomovirus genus and Geminiviridae family. It is responsible for causing severe systemic infections in plants, significantly disrupting metabolic processes and plant physiology.

Affected crops: The primary host for this virus is the sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas). The pathogen has been identified as a significant threat in agricultural regions, particularly affecting commercial cultivation areas and research plots focusing on root crop development.

Symptoms and signs: Infected plants typically exhibit leaf curling, yellowing (chlorosis), and distinct mosaic patterns. Growth retardation is a hallmark of the infection, often leading to stunted plants and the production of malformed, undersized, or commercially unviable storage roots.

Conditions of development and spread: The virus is transmitted through insect vectors, specifically the whitefly Bemisia tabaci. Environmental conditions such as warm, humid temperatures provide an ideal habitat for whitefly proliferation, facilitating the rapid transmission of the virus from infected to healthy plants.

Virulence and preventive measures: The disease causes substantial yield losses, sometimes reaching over 50% under heavy infestation. Prevention strategies include the use of virus-free planting stock, the implementation of strict sanitation practices to remove weed hosts, and active management of whitefly populations through insecticides and integrated pest management programs.