Author(s):

Sonika and Hitesh Kumar

Abstract: Cotton leaf curl disease (CLCuD) is a severe and potential threat for cotton production in India. Cotton leaf curl disease is caused by cotton leaf curl virus (CLCuV) which is a single stranded circular Geminivirus that consists of DNA-A and two satellites. This virus belongs to the genus Begomovirus and transmitted by the insect vector whitefly (Bamicia tabaci) in the circulative and persistent manner that causes drastic reduction in the yield, growth and quality parameters of the cotton crop. Cotton leaf curl disease can be escaped or more appropriately the impact of cotton leaf curl disease can be minimized by modifying the different management practices in such a way so that susceptible stages of the crop does not coincide with the environmental conditions that favours CLCuD. These different management strategies can be adopted for this which includes; promotion for the cultivation of desi species i.e. G. arboreum L. and G. herbaceum L., identification of the resistant sources and making attempts to pyramid resistant genes, the resistant genes against CLCuD may be transferred or introgressed into upland cotton from Gossypium herbaceum L., Gossypium arboreum L. and also from the related wild species for which biotechnological tools can be used, destruction of the infected plants especially after harvesting, early sowing to escape pest and disease infestation, destruction of off-season weeds and clean cultivation during the season to minimize sources of virus inoculums. Adoption of strategies like early sowing to minimize/ avoid the infestation of CLCuD having very less per cent disease incidence and whitefly population as compared to late sown crop, balanced use of fertilizer and eradication of host plants from field after harvesting may be helpful to minimize the loss in production & productivity and helpful for enhancement of quality.

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