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A WHITEFLY-TRANSMITTED GEMINIVIRUS ASSOCIATED WITH COTTON LEAF CURL DISEASE IN PAKISTAN

S. MANSOOR* , I. BEDFORD, M.S. PINNER, J. STANLEY AND P.G. MARKHAM

Abstract: Cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) is one of the most important crop of Pakistan which accounts for 60% of the export product of the country. In the last few years cotton leaf curl disease has acquired epidemic proportions in Pakistan and has seriously threatened cotton production. The characteristic symptoms of the disease are severe leaf curling, thick dark veins and enations which sometimes differentiate into cup shaped leaf-like structures on the underside of the leaf (Fig 1a). Whitefly (Bemisia tabaci) was suspected as the insect vector of cotton leaf curl disease. Whiteflies maintained in the controlled conditions were used for insect transmission of the disease from cotton to cotton and from cotton to tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum). The symptoms developed on cotton and tobacco were similar to leaf curling in cotton plant with thick dark veins and development of cup shaped structures on underside ofleaf (Fig.1b).

Department of Virus Research, John Innes Institute, John Innes Centre for Plant Science Research, Norwich NR4 7UH, UK.
National Institute for Biotechnology and Genetic Engineering (NIBGE), 577 Jhang Road, Faisalabad, Pakistan.