An Overview of Chili Leaf Curl Disease: Molecular Mechanisms, Impact, Challenges, and Disease Management Strategies in Indian Subcontinent.

Leaf curl disease in a chili plant is caused mainly by (ChiLCV) (Family: , Genus: ). ChiLCV shows a widespread occurrence in most of the chili (.) growing regions. ChiLCV has a limited host range and infects tomatoes (), potatoes (), and amaranth (). The virus genome is a monopartite circular single-stranded DNA molecule of 2.7 kb and associated with α and β-satellites of 1.3 and 1.4 kb, respectively. The virus genome is encapsulated in distinct twinned icosahedral particles of around 18-30 nm in size and transmitted by (Family: , Order: ). Recently, bipartite begomovirus has been found to be associated with leaf curl disease. The leaf curl disease has a widespread distribution in the major equatorial regions ., Australia, Asia, Africa, Europe, and America. Besides the PCR, qPCR, and LAMP-based detection systems, recently, localized surface-plasmon-resonance (LPSR) based optical platform is used for ChiLCV detection in a 20-40 μl of sample volume using aluminum nanoparticles. Management of ChiLCV is more challenging due to the vector-borne nature of the virus, therefore integrated disease management strategies need to be followed to contain the spread and heavy crop loss. CRISPR/Cas-mediated virus resistance has gained importance in disease management of DNA and RNA viruses due to certain advantages over the conventional approaches. Therefore, CRISPR/Cas system-mediated resistance needs to be explored in chili against ChiLCV.