Chickpea redleaf virus

Chickpea redleaf virus (CpRLV) is a plant virus belonging to the genus Polerovirus within the Luteoviridae family. It is a significant biotic stressor for chickpea (Cicer arietinum) crops worldwide, causing systemic infections that severely impact physiological plant processes.

The primary symptom of the disease is the reddening or yellowing of foliage, which often leads to plant stunting and necrosis. In susceptible chickpea varieties, the virus restricts flower development and pod set, causing substantial economic losses through both reduced quality and quantity of the grain.

The virus is transmitted by aphids in a persistent manner, with the pea aphid (Acyrthosiphon pisum) being one of the main vectors. CpRLV cannot be transmitted mechanically or through seeds, meaning its cycle relies entirely on the movement of infected aphids from reservoir hosts to healthy chickpea plants.

Environmental conditions that favor aphid population growth, such as mild temperatures and dry spells, significantly accelerate the spread of the virus. Because the virus can survive in wild legumes or perennial crops, the disease often appears at the edges of fields before spreading deeper into the crop canopy.

Integrated disease management for CpRLV focuses on vector control:

• Regular monitoring of aphid populations to apply insecticides at economic thresholds.
• Selection of resistant or tolerant chickpea cultivars.
• Implementing cultural practices, such as barrier cropping or adjusting planting dates to avoid peak aphid migration.
• Control of weed hosts in and around the field to reduce the initial virus inoculum.