Skip to content

Chilli leaf curl virus (Gemini virus complex)

Chilli leaf curl disease is caused by a complex of monopartite and bipartite begomoviruses in the family Geminiviridae, of which Chilli leaf curl virus (ChiLCV) is the most prevalent in India. The disease is one of the principal biotic constraints on Indian chilli production and can cause near-total yield loss in unprotected crops.

Identification and symptoms

Infected plants show upward curling of the leaves, vein clearing, reduction of leaf blade area and overall stunting. Severe early infection can suppress flowering and fruit-set almost entirely.

Host crops / Life cycle

The virus belongs to the family Geminiviridae, genus Begomovirus. It is transmitted in a circulative-persistent manner by the whitefly Bemisia tabaci (Pest Sucking Pests Chilli); seed transmission has not been demonstrated. Susceptible hosts include chilli (Chilli Guntur Sannam, Chilli Teja Segment) and other solanaceous crops.

Damage and economic impact

The disease can cause complete yield collapse under high vector pressure, particularly in kharif and early rabi crops where whitefly populations build rapidly.

Management (cultural, biological, chemical)

The principal management lever is whitefly suppression coupled with host resistance. Recommended measures include:

  • Vector exclusion — insect-proof nets (40-50 mesh) in nursery (Practice Chilli Nursery Raising) and reflective mulches in the main field
  • Vector chemistry — rotation of imidacloprid, diafenthiuron and similar neonicotinoid / IGR insecticides against whitefly
  • Rogueing — removal of symptomatic plants in early vegetative stage
  • Host resistance — ICAR-IIHR has released tolerant cultivars Arka Yashasvi (H 8) and Arka Tejasvi; private hybrids such as BASF Armour (Chilli Basf Armour) carry intermediate resistance

Breeding for host resistance is the long-term management strategy, supported by ICAR-IIHR's germplasm-screening programme.

Chilli Leaf Curl Virus, Pest Sucking Pests Chilli, Chilli Basf Armour, Practice Chilli Nursery Raising, Practice Chilli Spray Schedule

References

  1. Current status and breeding strategies for managing chilli leaf curl virus. Frontiers in Plant Science, 2023.
  2. Leaf Curl Epidemic Risk in Chilli. Viruses (MDPI).
  3. Chilli varieties (Arka series). ICAR-IIHR.