Sweet potato leaf curl virus

Sweet potato leaf curl virus (SPLCV) is a plant pathogenic virus belonging to the genus Polerovirus. It causes a systemic infection in host plants, leading to a significant reduction in photosynthetic efficiency and overall plant vitality, which eventually impacts crop yield and tuber quality.

The primary host for this virus is the sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas). The pathogen interferes with the plant's metabolic pathways, causing structural changes within the vascular tissues that inhibit the proper translocation of nutrients from leaves to the developing storage roots.

Key symptoms include the upward curling of leaf margins, yellowing (chlorosis), and severe distortion of the foliage. Plants infected with SPLCV typically exhibit stunted growth, shortened internodes, and a reduced root system, which drastically diminishes the market value and physical size of the harvest.

Transmission occurs predominantly through the whitefly Bemisia tabaci, which acquires the virus while feeding on infected sap and transmits it to healthy plants. Another major pathway for virus spread is the propagation of infected vegetative material, such as vines or cuttings taken from symptomatic sweet potato plants.

• Implement strict sanitation protocols in greenhouses and fields.
• Use certified, virus-free planting material for every season.
• Monitor and control whitefly populations using targeted insecticides.
• Remove and destroy infected plants immediately to prevent secondary spread.
• Maintain spatial isolation between new plantings and suspected reservoirs.

Effective management requires a combination of vector control and stringent nursery practices. Since there is no curative treatment for viral diseases once the plant is systemically infected, prevention through high-quality stock selection and early detection of vector presence remains the most critical strategy for commercial growers.