Journal of Plant Pathology & Microbiology

Abstract

Recent Research Findings Related to Management Strategies of Begomoviruses

Snehi SK, Raj SK, Prasad V and Singh V

Begomoviruses (family Geminiviridae) cause a number of serious diseases of cultivated crops and they are considered as the major constrains for cultivation of several crops all over the world. Presently human activity and modern day agriculture are one of the key factors in the emergence of begomoviruses in various parts of the world. The available disease management options include the organisation of agricultural practice to reduce disease, the use of cultural control such as sanitation programmes, the control of the vector population through the use of insecticides, and the breeding and growing of resistant crop cultivars. Transgenic resistance against begomoviruses has shown limited success despite the use of a number of strategies. Ability of begomoviruses to evolve rapidly by recombination and mutations is the major limitation to all these strategies. In modern-day biotechnology, focus is required on engineering begomovirus resistance through transgenic approach. Expression of various full length or truncated or defective proteins of the virus has been effective in achieving pathogen-derived resistance. Antisense RNA and RNAi technology have also been used with some success. This review focus on both conventional and nonconventional management strategies methods have been suggested and described over the years for management of begomoviruses diseases in economically important plants.