Samyka Marium1, Muhammad Zeeshan1, Muhammad Kashif Shahzad Sarwar*2, Huma Saif1, Faizan Asif1 and Muhammad Usman1
1Department of Botany, University of Agriculture Faisalabad 2Cotton Research Station, Ayub agricultural Research Institute, Faisalabad
*Corresponding author: jatdhelvi@gmail.com
CLCuV is a threat to cotton production worldwide. Cotton leaf curl disease is a risk to the cotton producing countries like China, Pakistan, India, the Philippines, and Thailand. This virus is responsible for the reduction in yield, as well as the decrease in the number of bolls and their weight, and the overall reduction in the size of the plants. CLCuD is caused by monopartite begomovirus along with alpha and beta satellites. There are many strains of CLCuV such as Cotton leaf curl Kokhran virus (CLCuKoV), Cotton leaf curl Alabad virus (CLCuAlV), Cotton leaf curl Rajasthan virus (CLCuRaV), Cotton leaf curl Multan virus (CLCuMuV), Cotton leaf curl Gezira virus. The whitefly, Bemisia tabaci is responsible for the transfer of CLCuD. Countless measurements can be taken to minimize the effect of virus on cotton plant, removal of alternate hosts, early sowing, use of proper fertilizers for healthy plant growth, pesticides for the eradication of pests’ population (white fly). Some genetic and biotechnological approaches are also been devised to control and develop resistance against the virus. Further, resistance can be developed by producing transgenic varieties by pathogen derived resistance or gene editing by CRISPR-Cas technologies. In future, we will be able to produce new plant varieties with better resistance against disease and better yield. In this review the genetic component involved in CLCuV spread, its vector, transmission, affected areas, different strains, and management strategies are discussed.