Chilli Leaf Curl Disease: An Emerging Threat to Chilli Cultivation in Maharashtra, India

Chilli leaf curl disease (ChiLCD) locally known as ‘Churda Murda’ is a most destructive disease of chilli (Capsicum annuum) in India. The ChiLCD is caused by whitefly (Bemisia tabaci)-transmitted Begomovirus, belonging to the family Geminiviridae. A study was conducted to investigate the current status of ChiLCD in Maharashtra. Survey was carried out in chilli growing districts of Maharashtra to study the disease incidence (DI) and percent diseases index (PDI) of ChiLCD. Artificial Intelligence (AI)-based application (App) ‘Plantix–your crop doctor’ was used to assess the diagnosis of ChiLCD. During the survey different symptoms of ChiLCD, leaf curling, leaf yellowing, crinkling, puckering, vein banding and stunting were observed in diseased chilli plants. In this study, ‘Plantix–your crop doctor’ App accurately diagnosed the ChiLCD and its pathogen Chilli leaf curl virus (ChiLCV). High ChiLCD incidence of 85-100% with PDI of 53.8-62.7% was observed at Kemwadi village in Osmanabad district and 80-90% with PDI of 42.3-45.7% at Ranmasle village in Solapur district of Maharashtra. The high incidence of ChiLCD in Maharashtra has been taken into consideration and this can be correlated with various factors such as weather conditions, insecticide resistance in whitefly populations, and the appearance of virulent strains of ChiLCV. Early detection of ChiLCV using the AI-based ‘Plantix–your crop doctor’ App and effective management of insect vector whitefly could prevent ChiLCV spread and minimize the crop yield losses.