Solanum yellow leaf curl begomovirus

Begomovirus solanumflavusindonesiaense is a viral pathogen of the genus Begomovirus known for causing severe economic damage to vegetable crops. The virus, characterized by its circular single-stranded DNA genome, is highly adapted to infecting Solanaceous hosts, primarily impacting their vascular tissue.

The disease primarily affects economically significant crops such as tomatoes, peppers, and eggplants. Once the virus enters the plant, it induces a systemic infection that rapidly spreads through the phloem, causing physiological disruption that often results in complete crop failure if management is not implemented early.

Symptoms of the infection typically include severe chlorosis (yellowing) of the leaves, accompanied by significant leaf curling, upward cupping, and crinkling. Affected plants display stunted growth, shorter internodes, and poor fruit set, leading to small, deformed, and often unmarketable fruits that lack nutritional value.

The transmission mechanism of this virus relies almost exclusively on the whitefly, Bemisia tabaci. The insect acquires the virus while feeding on infected plant sap and transmits it to healthy plants during subsequent feeding events. High temperatures and high humidity further exacerbate whitefly population growth, facilitating rapid viral outbreaks.

Effective management strategies include the following:

• Deployment of resistant or tolerant crop varieties.
• Strict control of whitefly populations using integrated pest management (IPM).
• Removal and destruction of infected plants to reduce inoculum pressure.
• Implementation of greenhouse screening to exclude whitefly vectors.
• Weed control programs to eliminate secondary host plants near crop fields.