Chili leaf curl virus

Chili leaf curl virus (ChiLCV) is a significant plant pathogen belonging to the genus Begomovirus within the family Geminiviridae. It is a single-stranded DNA virus that poses a severe threat to global pepper production, often causing massive crop failure in affected areas.

The virus primarily affects Capsicum species, including hot and sweet peppers, though it can also infect tomatoes and various weed species that act as reservoirs. Typical symptoms include severe curling and crinkling of leaves, thickened veins, and significant stunting, which prevents the plant from reaching its full physiological potential.

The biological cycle of the virus is intrinsically linked to the whitefly Bemisia tabaci, which acts as the primary vector. The virus is transmitted in a persistent circulative manner, meaning the insect remains infectious for its entire life cycle after feeding on a host plant infected with ChiLCV.

Warm temperatures and low humidity are the ideal environmental conditions for the proliferation of the whitefly population. These conditions trigger rapid viral transmission cycles within greenhouses and open fields, making it difficult to contain the spread once an initial outbreak is established.

The economic impact of this virus is substantial, as infected plants rarely produce marketable fruits. Controlling ChiLCV requires an integrated approach to pest and disease management, focusing on reducing the vector population and removing inoculum sources:

• Implementing sticky traps for monitoring whitefly populations.
• Regular application of systemic and contact insecticides.
• Using insect-proof netting in greenhouse production.
• Selecting virus-resistant pepper cultivars.