Chickpea chlorotic stunt virus

Chickpea chlorotic stunt virus (CPCSV), a member of the Polerovirus genus, is a significant viral pathogen affecting chickpea production worldwide. The disease systemically infects the plant's phloem tissue, leading to severe physiological disruptions that negatively impact plant vigor, biomass accumulation, and final seed yield.

The virus is transmitted by aphids in a persistent, circulative, and non-propagative manner. The primary vector, Aphis craccivora, acquires the virus while feeding on infected plant sap and retains the ability to inoculate healthy plants for the duration of its lifespan. This transmission efficiency ensures rapid disease spread throughout the field.

Symptoms typically manifest as pronounced leaf yellowing (chlorosis), stunting of the plant architecture, and downward rolling or curling of the leaves. In severely affected crops, the production of pods is drastically reduced, and the grain that does develop is often shriveled and of poor market quality, leading to substantial economic losses.

Disease pressure is highly dependent on environmental conditions that favor aphid population dynamics. Mild temperatures and the presence of alternative host plants—such as weeds or overwintering legume crops—serve as essential reservoirs for the virus. When aphid populations migrate, they efficiently introduce the virus into new chickpea plantings.

Integrated disease management strategies include the following:

• Cultivation of resistant or tolerant chickpea cultivars as a primary defense.
• Removal of alternative host weeds from field borders to eliminate viral reservoirs.
• Strategic application of insecticides to manage aphid vector populations during early growth stages.
• Adjusting sowing dates to avoid peaks of aphid migration.
• Implementation of field monitoring to detect early symptoms and prevent secondary spread.