Role of alternate host plants in the transmission of apical leaf curl disease of potato caused by tomato leaf curl New Delhi virus –potato (ToLCNDV-pot.) in Northern India

Whitefly (Bemisia tabaci Gennadius) is a plant sap-sucking insect and transmits begomovirus, tomato leaf curl New Delhi virus-potato (ToLCNDV-potato) causing potato apical leaf curl disease has been posing serious threat to potato production in Northern India. Therefore, a field survey was conducted in Northern India during 2013-14 and 2014-15 potato offseason to identify the host plants, activity of whitefly on these plants with confirmation of ToLCNDV-potato through PCR. The presence of whitefly and PCR results revealed that cultivable host plants Abelmoschus esculentus, Capsicum annum, Dahlia pinnata, Luffa cylindrica, Solanum melongena, Tagetes erecta, Vigna radiata and non-cultivable host plants Phyllanthus niruri, Trifolium repens, Acalypha indica and Commelina benghalensis acquired ToLCNDV-potato in due course of time, however some of the alternate host plants were found negative, while whitefly collected from these plant showed positive reaction or vice versa. The findings of this study would help in studying the movement of whitefly and survival of ToLCNDV-potato on alternate host plants for better management of this disease in potato. As a precaution, a care should be taken to remove these plants in the vicinity of potato breeder seed crop in whitefly endemic area for the effective management of apical leaf curl disease of potato.