Rising orthotospovirus incidence in India: Challenges and advances in management

Orthotospoviruses (OV) have emerged as a significant agricultural threat in India, posing a severe risk to critical crops, including tomato, chilli, watermelon and groundnut. This review explores the rising incidence of OV, including Groundnut Bud Necrosis Orthotospovirus (GBNV), Watermelon Bud Necrosis Orthotospovirus (WBNV), Capsicum Chlorosis Orthotospovirus (CaCV), Peanut Yellow Spot Orthotospovirus (PYSV), Iris yellow spot Orthotospovirus (IYSV) and Tomato Spotted Wilt Orthotospovirus (TSWV), along with the challenges in their management. These viruses have led to severe yield losses, sometimes causing complete crop failure due to their wide host range and the polyphagous nature of thrips. This further complicates control efforts by facilitating rapid spread across diverse crops and regions. The review highlights the multifaceted challenges in managing OV and thrips, including the lack of durable host resistance, limited diagnostic capabilities, and difficulties in controlling thrips populations. Current management strategies, including cultural practices, chemical control, biological control and resistant genotype development, have shown limited efficacy in providing long-term solutions. Recent advancements in biotechnological approaches, such as RNA interference, are discussed as promising pathways for improved virus management. The review underscores the need for genome editing techniques, such as CRISPR/Cas9, which offer the capacity to develop virus-resistant plants by targeting essential viral or vector genes to disrupt transmission cycles. Additionally, using nanoparticles for targeted delivery of antiviral compounds and novel detection tools presents another innovative solution to effectively mitigate the impact of OV on Indian agriculture.