Ipomoea leaf curl begomovirus

Begomovirus ipomoeasichuanprimi is a viral plant pathogen belonging to the genus Begomovirus within the Geminiviridae family. The virus is characterized by a circular single-stranded DNA genome. It causes systemic infection in host plants, leading to severe physiological disruptions that impact overall plant vitality and productivity.

The primary hosts of this virus are plants within the Ipomoea genus. This includes both ornamental morning glory varieties and cultivated species. The virus persists in wild reservoirs belonging to the Convolvulaceae family, which makes it challenging to eradicate completely from agricultural landscapes and gardens.

Symptoms of the infection typically include downward leaf curling, yellow mosaic patterns, and stunted plant growth. In severe cases, the foliage becomes brittle, and the plant exhibits bushy growth patterns due to shortened internodes. The infection significantly reduces the ornamental value of flowers and negatively affects the yield of any edible crops in this genus.

Transmission is mediated by the whitefly Bemisia tabaci. The virus is acquired by the vector through feeding on the sap of infected plants and is subsequently transmitted to healthy plants during the feeding process. Environmental factors, particularly warm and humid conditions, significantly increase both the population of the vector and the rate of viral spread.

Effective management requires an integrated pest management (IPM) approach to target the whitefly vector and remove virus reservoirs. Recommended strategies include:

• Monitoring and managing whitefly populations using appropriate insecticides.
• Removing and destroying infected plants to reduce the inoculum source.
• Eliminating wild host weeds around the production area.
• Utilizing virus-free planting stock and cultivating resistant plant varieties.