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ARS Home » Pacific West Area » Parlier, California » San Joaquin Valley Agricultural Sciences Center » Crop Diseases, Pests and Genetics Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #415930
Research Project: Identifying Vulnerabilities in Vector-host-pathogen Interactions of Grapevine and Citrus Pathosystems to Advance Sustainable Management Strategies

Location: Crop Diseases, Pests and Genetics Research

Title: Molecular characterization of begomoviruses infecting diverse medical plants in SWAT, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan

Author
item ULLAH, ASAD - Hazara University
item AZIZ, UD DIN - Hazara University
item REHMAN, SALEEM - Pak-Austria Fachhochschule Institute Of Applied Sciences And Technology
item GNANASEKARAN, PRABU - Washington State University
item Zhai, Ying
item RAHAT, MURAD - University Of Swat
item AKBAR, FAZAL - University Of Swat
item PAPPU, HANU - Washington State University

Submitted to: Australasian Plant Pathology
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 9/22/2025
Publication Date: 2/2/2026
Citation: Ullah, A., Aziz, U.D., Rehman, S.U., Gnanasekaran, P., Zhai, Y., Rahat, M.A., Akbar, F., Pappu, H.R. 2026. Molecular characterization of begomoviruses infecting diverse medical plants in SWAT, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan. Australasian Plant Pathology. 55. Article 17. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13313-026-01112-2.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s13313-026-01112-2

Interpretive Summary: Begomoviruses infect a wide range of plant species in tropical and sub-tropical regions across the world. Several crops and medicinal plants showing symptoms of begomovirus infection were sampled in several areas in Pakistan. After rolling circle amplification and sequencing, we found the presence of begomoviruses and their associated satellites. This is the first report of begomoviruses and their associated satellites in the temperate region of Pakistan and highlights the need for further research on developing management strategies.

Technical Abstract: Begomoviruses constitute the largest genus in the family, Geminiviridae. They infect a wide range of plant species in tropical and sub-tropical regions across the world. Several crops and medicinal plants that included Amaranthus retroflexus, Cannabis sativa, Capsicum annum, Glycine max, Mentha longifolia, Parthenium Hysterophorus were sampled in several tehsils in SWAT, Kyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan and samples with symptoms indicative of begomovirus infection were characterized by complete genome sequencing following rolling circle amplification. Sequences showed the highest identity (more than 90%) with chili leaf curl virus, tomato leaf curl virus, tomato leaf curl New Delhi virus, chili leaf curl betasatellite, parthenium leaf curl alphasatellitess and papaya leaf curl betasatellite. This study is the first report of begomoviruses and their associated satellites in the temperate region of Pakistan and highlights the need for further research on developing management strategies.